PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:            4 August 1999                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999017683

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Mr. Kenneth Aucock		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred K. McCoy		Chairperson	
	Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright		Member	
	Mr. George D. Paxson		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests, in effect, that his records be corrected to reflect award of decorations associated with his service in Southwest Asia and that item 12f (foreign service) on his DD Form 214 also be corrected to reflect his overseas service in Southwest Asia.  In support of his request he submits a statement from his former unit commander verifying his service during the Gulf War.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty on 22 February 1990 and completed training as a combat engineer.  He departed AWOL in July 1990, returned to military control in August 1990 and was assigned to Fort Knox, Kentucky.  According to a statement by his former company commander, the applicant was deployed to Southwest Asia between 17 January 1991 and 15 August 1991 as part of a unit deployment from Fort Knox.

4.  The applicant was ultimately released from active duty with a general discharge on 17 January 1992 under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 13 for unsatisfactory performance.  His separation document does not reflect any awards associated with his service in Southwest Asia.

5.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that service in the Persian Gulf War is to be recognized by award of the Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM) to Army members who participated in Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm in the designated area on or after 2 August 1990.  A bronze service star is authorized for the Defense of Saudi Arabia (2 August 1990 to 16 January 1991) and the Liberation and Defense of Kuwait (17 January to 11 April 1991) and a Cease-fire Campaign (12 April 1991to 30 November 1995).

5.  The Kuwait Liberation Medal awarded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was approved on 3 January 1992 and is awarded to those members who participated in the Persian Gulf War from 17 January to 28 February 1991.

6.  The Secretary of Defense accepted an offer by the Government of Kuwait to award the Kuwait Liberation Medal (K) to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who participated in operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm between 2 August 1990 and 31 August 1993.

7. Receipt of medals associated with service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War is sufficient to confirm such service.  Item 12f (foreign service) on the DD Form 214 is reserved to reflect overseas service which was performed in a permanent, not temporary, duty status.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record confirms the applicant serviced in Southwest Asia from 17 January 1971 and 15 August 1991 and as such is entitled to the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service stars, and the Kuwait Liberation Medals awarded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of Kuwait.

2.  Although the applicant served for 7 months in Southwest Asia that service would have been performed in a temporary duty status and as such would not be recorded in item 12f (foreign service) on his DD Form 214.  Award of the Southwest Asia Service Medal is sufficient to document that service.

3.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the individual concerned the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service stars and the Kuwait Liberation Medals awarded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of Kuwait.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

__fkm___  __inw___  ___gdp__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999017683	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990804	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1. 107.00		
2.  110.00		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.