PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:          

	BOARD DATE:              15 February 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:      AR1999027745

	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. Beverly A. Young		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Ms. Karol A. Kennedy		Member	
	Mr. Roger Able		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 correction of item 27 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation) to show award of the Commendation Ribbon with Metal Pendant (currently known as the Army Commendation Medal). The applicant also requests, in effect, correction of item 46 (Non-Service Education) to show he completed high school based on General Educational Development (GED) testing.

3.  The applicant states that he received his GED diploma and Commendation Ribbon after his discharge.  In support of his application, he submits photocopies of a citation and a certificate of award for the Commendation Ribbon with Metal Pendant and his GED diploma, dated 4 March 1954.

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show that he entered active duty on 7 June 1951 and completed training as a clerk typist.  He served in Korea and was discharged from active duty on 20 May 1953.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show the Army Commendation Medal as an authorized award.  

6.  The applicant provided a certificate of award, dated 15 May 1953, for the Commendation Ribbon with Metal Pendant for meritorious service in Korea during the period 6 January 1952 to 18 April 1953.

7.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows he completed only two years of high school.  The applicant provided his GED diploma which shows he completed the standard score on the GED tests after he was discharged from active duty.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Army Commendation Medal may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.  

9.  Army Regulation 635-5 serves as the authority for the preparation of the report of separation (DD Form 214).  It states, in pertinent part, that only information that is current at the time separation will be entered on that form.  Changes to information that occurs subsequent to the preparation of the DD Form 214 are not authorized.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Based on the evidence provided by the applicant, the Board determined that the applicant is entitled to award of the Army Commendation Medal and correction of item 27 of his DD Form 214 to show this award.

2.  Evidence of record shows the applicant completed the prescribed testing for award of his GED diploma; however, he was not awarded this diploma prior to the date of his discharge from active duty.  Therefore, he is not entitled to correction of item 46 of his DD Form 214 to show he completed high school.

3.  In view of the foregoing finding 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 the individual concerned was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

FE______  KAK_____  RA_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Fred Eichorn__________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999027745	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000215	
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.	100.00	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.