PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           22 March 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999029029

	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.  

	Mrs. Nancy Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. James M. Alward		Chairperson	
	Mr. Ted S. Kanamine		Member	
	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		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 his race and birthplace as shown on his Report of Separation be corrected.

3.  The applicant states that his race is “white” and he was born in Compton, VA.

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire in 1973.  The information contained herein was obtained from documents provided by the applicant.

5.  The applicant’s birth certificate shows his parents lived in Compton, VA at the time of his birth and he was born in Compton, VA.  His birth certificate shows both his parent’s race as “white.”  The applicant’s selective service registration shows his race as “white.”

6.  The applicant was inducted into the Army on 11 June 1943.  His record of induction is not available.  He was separated on 20 January 1946.  His Report of Separation shows his place of birth as Quenville, VA and his race as “Negro.”

7.  Army Regulation 635-5 prescribes the separation documents prepared for soldiers upon retirement, discharge or release from active military service or control of the Amy.  It establishes standardized policy for the preparation and distribution of DD Form 214.  Separation documents provide soldiers a record of their military service; the Army a source of information for administrative purposes; and governmental agencies an authoritative source of information for administering Federal and State laws pertaining to veterans.  The DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty.  It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active Army service at the time of release from active duty, retirement or discharge.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  For historical purposes, the Army has an interest in maintaining the accuracy of its records.  The data and information contained in those records should actually reflect the conditions and circumstances that existed at the time the records were created.  The Board is normally reluctant to recommend that those records be changed absent evidence of a material error or injustice.  It is not known how the applicant’s race and place of birth were reflected on his induction records; however, the requested corrections are not critical to government needs (such as a correction to the name or serial number would be).  The Board concludes it would be appropriate to correct his Report of Separation to reflect his place of birth and race as shown on his birth certificate and selective service registration certificate.

2.  In view of the foregoing, it would be in the interest of justice to correct the applicant’s records as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by amending the applicant’s Report of Separation to show his place of birth as Compton, VA and his race as “white.”

BOARD VOTE:  

__JMA___  __TSK__  __AAO__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			James M. Alward
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999029029	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000222	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	100.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.