PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:           

	BOARD DATE:                 30 March 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999028205

	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. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Barbara J. Ellis		Chairperson	
	Mr. Hubert O. Fry, Jr.		Member	
	Mr. Ernest W. Lutz, Jr.		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 award of the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) (First Oak Leaf Cluster).

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his DD Form 214 does not show the 
Meritorious Service Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster). 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered active duty on 23 August 1976 as a chemical operations specialist.  He continued to serve through a series of continuous reenlistments until he was placed on the Army of the United States Retire List effective 1 February 1999 in the pay grade of MSG/E8.  His discharge document does not show the MSM (First Oak Leaf Cluster) as an authorized award.

5.  The applicant provided a copy of DA Form 638, which shows that he was awarded the MSM (First Oak Leaf Cluster) by Headquarters, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Fort Monroe, Virginia Permanent Order Number 19-6, dated 19 January 1999. 

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Permanent orders show the applicant was awarded the MSM (First Oak Leaf Cluster); therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

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

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing in item 13 (Decorations and Awards) of his DD Form 214 that the
individual concerned was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster).

BOARD VOTE:  

BJE____  HOF_____  EWL____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Barbara J. Ellis_______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX
CASE ID	AR1999028836	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000330	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19940301	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1. 66		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.