PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           15 June 2000      
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999028140

	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. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Orville W. Troesch, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Ms. Kathleen A. Newman		Member	
	Ms. Margaret V. Thompson		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 that item 17 (Current Active Service Other Than By Induction) of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) with an effective date of 31 March 1972 be corrected to show “Reenlisted”; that item 18 (Prior Regular Enlistments) be corrected to show “1942”; that item 21 (Home Of Record At Time Of Entry Into Active Service (Street, RFD, City, County, State and ZIP Code)) be corrected to show “513 Euclid Ave.” [Avenue]; that item 23 (Specialty Number & Title) be corrected to show “General Engineer”; that item 
24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) be corrected to show the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars, the Good Conduct Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Korean Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal; and that item 28 (VA Claim Number) be corrected to show “C28195973”.   

3.  The applicant states that review of his DD Form 214 revealed errors as noted above.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of DD Form 214 with an effective date of 31 March 1972, a copy of WD AGO Form 53 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) with an effective date of 22 September 1949, a DA Form 66 (Officer Qualification Record), an award certificate for the Meritorious Service Medal, a WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) with an effective date of 24 November 1945, and pages 35 and 36 of Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards). 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted on 30 November 1942, served in the European Theater of Operations and was honorably discharged as a sergeant on 24 November 1945. The applicant enlisted again on 21 March 1949 and was honorably discharged to accept an appointment as a Reserve commissioned officer on 22 September 1949.  He entered active duty as a second lieutenant on 23 September 1949 and remained on active duty until he retired in the rank of lieutenant colonel on 31 March 1972. 

5.  Item 17 (Current Active Service Other Than By Induction) of the applicant’s DD Form 214 with an effective date of 31 March 1972 indicates the applicant was ordered to active duty from the USAR.  Item 18 (Prior Regular Enlistments) shows “NA”.  Item 21 (Home Of Record At The Time Of Entry Into Active Service (Street, RFD, City, County, State and ZIP Code)) shows “Canonsburg, Pennsylvania”.  Item 23 (Specialty Number & Title) shows “4515 AMMO&MSL MAINT OFF” [ammunition & missile maintenance officer].  Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) does not show the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars, the Good Conduct Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Korean Service Medal or the Vietnam Campaign Medal as authorized awards.  Item 28 (VA Claim Number) shows “Unknown”.

6.  The applicant’s personnel records contain Ground General School Center Special Orders Number 232, dated 23 September 1949, which shows the applicant was ordered to active duty from the Officers Reserve Corps effective this date. 

7.  The applicant’s records show he had two prior regular enlistments before his appointment as a second lieutenant in the USAR.

8.  The applicant’s appointment letter to second lieutenant, dated 23 September 1949, shows his address as “513 Euclid Avenue, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania”.     

9.  Item 9 (Military Occupational Specialties) of the applicant’s DA Form 
66 (Officers Qualification Record) shows the applicant’s primary military occupational specialty (MOS) as “4515 Ammo&MslMaintOff”.

10.  The applicant’s records show he served in the European Theater of Operations from 7 September 1944 through 2 July 1945 and participated in three campaigns (Northern France from 25 July 1944 through 14 September 1944; Rhineland from 15 September 1944 through 21 March 1945; and Central Europe from 22 March 1945 through 11 May 1945).

11.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 with an effective date of 24 November 1945 shows the Good Conduct Medal as an authorized award.

12.  Headquarters United States Army Materiel Command General Orders Number 69, dated 3 April 1973, shows the applicant was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for meritorious service for the period April 1968 to March 1972.

13.  The applicant served on active duty in the USAR from 23 September 1949 through 31 March 1972, a total of 22 years, 8 months and 8 days.  

14.  There is no evidence in the applicant’s personnel records which shows he served in Korea.  Item 30 (Remarks) on the applicant’s DD Form 214 shows “KOREA - No”.  

15.  There is no evidence in the applicant’s personnel records which shows he served in Vietnam.  Item 30 (Remarks on the applicant’s DD Form 214 shows “Vietnam Service:  None”.  The applicant was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal for his service in Thailand (from 25 April 1967 through 10 April 1968) in direct support of operations in Vietnam.

16.  There is no evidence in the applicant’s records which shows he was assigned a VA Claim Number prior to his retirement.  

17.  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 the number of prior Regular Army enlistments the individual has completed will be entered in item 18 of the DD Form 214.  For officers enter “NA”. The regulation also states, in pertinent part, that the primary military occupational specialty code number and title will be entered in item 23 of the DD Form 214.  

18.  Army Regulation 635-5, effective 1 February 1967, states in pertinent part, that item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) will reflect all decorations, service medals, campaign credits, and badges awarded or authorized, omitting authorities cited therein.

19.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), in pertinent part, authorizes award of the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal for qualifying service in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations for the period 7 December 1941 to 8 November 1945.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also authorizes a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation or listed in item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of the WD AGO Form 53-55.  The regulation states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate campaign or service medal including the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.  

20.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, provides for award of the Armed Forces Reserve Medal (AFRM).  It is awarded for honorable and satisfactory service as a member of one or more of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces of the United States for a period of 10 years.  The conditions for award of the AFRM include requirements for such service to be completed within 
12 consecutive years and service in a regular component of the Armed Forces, tenure in elected state office, tenure as a member of a legislative body of the United States or a state, and service as a judge of a court of record of the United States, a state or territory or District of Columbia is excluded from credit to ward this award but does not constitute a break in service.  The Ten-year Device (an Hourglass) is authorized for wear on the AFRM to denote each 10-year period.  A Bronze Hourglass is awarded for the first 10-year period and a Silver Hourglass is awarded for 20 years of qualifying service.   

21.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides for award of the Korean Service Medal.  In pertinent part, the regulation states that the Korean service Medal is awarded for qualifying service in the theater of operations between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954.

22.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the Vietnam Campaign Medal.  This medal was awarded by the Government of Vietnam to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States for qualifying service in Vietnam during the period 1 March 1961 through 28 March 1973.  Qualifying service included assignment in Vietnam for 6 months or more and contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam and Armed Forces. Individuals who had qualified for award of the Vietnam Service Medal or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and were evacuated prior to completing six months of service due wounds resulting from hostile action were entitled to award of the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board noted the applicant’s contention that item 17 (Current Active Service Other Than By Induction) on his DD Form 214 with an effective date of 31 March 1972 should be corrected to show the entry “Reenlisted”.  However, evidence of record shows the applicant was ordered to active duty from the Officers Reserve Corps effective 23 September 1949.  Therefore, item 
17 on his DD Form 214 is correct as currently constituted. 

2.  Evidence of record shows the applicant had two prior regular enlistments before he entered active duty as a second lieutenant in the USAR on
23 September 1949.  However, in accordance with the governing regulation, the entry “NA” will be used for officers in item 18 (Prior Regular Enlistments) on the DD Form 214.  Therefore, item 18 on the DD Form 214 with an effective date of 31 March 1972 is correct as currently constituted.   

3.  Item 21 (Home of Record at Time of Entry into Active Service (Street, RFD, City, County, State and ZIP Code)) on the applicant’s DD Form 214 with an effective date of 31 March 1972 does not list the street address.  Evidence of record shows the applicant’s street address at the time of his entry onto active duty on 23 September 1949 was “513 Euclid Avenue”.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of item 21 on his DD Form 214 to show this street address. 

4.  Although the applicant contends that item 23 (Specialty Number & Title) on his DD Form 214 with an effective date of 31 March 1972 should be corrected to show the entry “General Engineer”, evidence of record shows the applicant’s primary MOS was 4515 (Ammunition & Missile Maintenance Officer).  Therefore, item 23 on the DD Form 214 is correct as currently constituted.    

5.  The applicant served in the European Theater of Operations from 
7 September 1944 through 2 July 1945 and participated in three campaigns.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his military records to show the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars.

6.  The applicant was awarded the Good Conduct Medal during his first enlistment; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 with an effective date of 31 March 1972 to show this award.

7.  The applicant was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his military records to show this award.

8.  The applicant served over 22 years of active duty in the USAR; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his military records to show the AFRM with Twenty-year Device.  

9.  There is no evidence of record available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows he served in Korea between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954.  Therefore, he is not entitled to award of the Korean Service Medal.
 
10.  There is no evidence of record available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows he served in Vietnam for 6 months or more during the period 1 March 1961 through 28 March 1973.  Therefore, he is not entitled to award of the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

11.  There is no evidence of record available to the Board which shows the applicant was assigned a VA Claim Number prior to his retirement on 31 March 1972.  Therefore, he is not entitled to correction of item 28 (VA Claim Number) on his DD Form 214 with an effective date of 31 March 1972.  

12.  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:

	a.  by adding the entry “513 Euclid Avenue” in item 21 (Home of Record at Time of entry Into Active Service (Street, RFD, City, County, State and ZIP Code)) on the DD Form 214 with an effective date of 31 March 1972 of the individual concerned; and 

	b.  by adding the entries “European-African-Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal with three service stars”, “Meritorious Service Medal” and “Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Twenty-year Device” in item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) on his DD Form 214. 

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

BOARD VOTE:  

OWT___  KAN_____  MVT____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Orville W. Troesch, Jr___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999028140	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000615	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19720331	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	Title 10 USC Section 3911	
DISCHARGE REASON	Voluntary Retirement	
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0065	
2.	107.0017	
3.	107.0076	
4.	100.0000	
5.		
6.