PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            23 February 2000                 
	DOCKET NUMBER:    AR1999024789

	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.  

	Ms. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Ms. Elizabeth Buchanon 		Member	
	Mr. Raymond J. Wagner		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 item 24c (Foreign and/or Sea Service) on his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) with an effective date of 30 November 1966 be corrected to show his entire amount of foreign service accrued during his active duty.  He also requests that item 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) on his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) with an effective date of 30 November 1966 be corrected to show award of the Army Commendation Medal and all awards and decorations that he earned during his active duty.    

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he believes the clerk who prepared his retirement DD Form 214 failed to bring forward the total amount of his foreign service in item 24c and failed to consolidate all of his awards and decorations in item 26.  In support of his application, he submits a letter of explanation, a WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) with an effective date of 8 December 1945, a WD AGO Form 53-98 (Military Record and Report of Separation) with an effective date of 5 July 1949, a DD Form 214 with an effective date of 11 July 1961, a DD Form 214 with an effective date of 11 July 1964, a DD Form 214 with an effective date of 30 November 1966 and a citation and award certificate for the Army Commendation Medal.      

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted on 7 April 1943, served as a postal clerk in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 8 October 1943 to 22 November 1945 and was honorably discharged on 8 December 1945.  He enlisted on 6 July 1948 and remained on active duty through continuous reenlistments until he retired in the rank of master sergeant on 30 November 1966. 

5.  The applicant provided copies of five discharge documents with effective dates of 8 December 1945, 5 July 1949, 11 July 1961, 11 July 1964 and
30 November 1966, respectively.  The applicant’s discharge documents do not show the Army Commendation Medal as an authorized award.    

6.  The applicant provided a copy of a citation and an award certificate, dated 
13 November 1966, which shows the applicant was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service during the period 25 November 1959 to 30 November 1966.

7.  Army Regulation 635-5, in effect, at the time, provides instructions for the preparation of the DD Form 214.  In pertinent part, it directs that foreign service performed during the period covered by the DD Form 214 will be entered in item 24c.  

8.  Army Regulation 635-5 also states that item 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) will be completed to show the decorations awarded or authorized during the period covered by the DD Form 214.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board noted the applicant’s contention that his entire amount of foreign service accrued during his active duty is not shown in item 24c (Foreign and/or Sea Service) on his retirement DD Form 214.  However, in accordance with the governing regulation, only foreign service performed during the period covered by the DD Form 214 will be entered in item 24c.  Therefore, there is no basis to show the applicant’s total amount of foreign service accrued during his active duty on his retirement DD Form 214.  

2.  The applicant was awarded the Army Commendation Medal on 13 November 1966; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 with an effective date of 30 November 1966 to show this award.

3.  The Board also noted the applicant’s contention that all of his awards are not consolidated in item 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) on his retirement DD Form 214.  However, in accordance with the governing regulation in effect at the time of the applicant’s retirement, only decorations awarded or authorized during the period covered by the DD Form 214 will be shown in item 26.  Therefore, there is no basis to consolidate all of the applicant’s awards and decorations on his retirement DD Form 214.

4.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Army Commendation Medal on his DD Form 214 with an effective date of 30 November 1966.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

RVO____  EB______  RJW____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999024789	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000223	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19661130	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-230 Title 10 US Code 3914	
DISCHARGE REASON	Retirement after more than 20 years active Federal service.	
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	113.0000	
2.	107.0020	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.