PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           8 March 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999029305

	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. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Elzey J. Arledge, 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 that he be awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) and that he be issued that award and the National Defense Service Medal.

3.  The applicant states that he was in Korea during a time period in which the AFEM was authorized.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army on 23 September 1965.  He arrived in Korea on 3 August 1966 and served as a mortar gunner with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 23d Infantry, 2d Infantry Division.  Despite having 5 days of lost time in April 1967, his commander rated his conduct and efficiency as “excellent” when he departed in July 1967.  He was released from active duty with an honorable characterization of service on 14 July 1967.  He had completed 1 year, 9 months and 17 days of creditable active federal service.  His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.  His Personnel Qualification Record shows his conduct and efficiency ratings throughout his period of service as “excellent” except for one efficiency rating of “good” for academic reasons. 

5.  Army Regulation 672-5-1, in effect at the time, provided policy and criteria concerning individual military decorations.  It stated that the Army Good Conduct Medal was awarded for each 3 years of continuous enlisted active Federal military service completed on or after 27 August 1940 and, for the first award only, upon termination of service on or after 27 June 1950 of less than 3 years but more than 1 year.  At the time, a soldier’s conduct and efficiency ratings must have been rated as “excellent” for the entire period of qualifying service except that a service school efficiency rating based upon academic proficiency of at least “good” rendered subsequent to 22 November 1955 was not disqualifying.  It also states that the AFEM was awarded for service in Korea during the period      1 October 1966 to 30 June 1974.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant does meet the regulatory requirement for award of the AFEM.  The Board also concludes that, despite his short period of lost time, he met the requirement for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal.

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

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the applicant the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 23 September 1965 through 14 July 1967.
2.  That the Army Good Conduct Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal be added to the applicant’s DD Form 214.

3.  That the applicant be issued the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

__rvo___  __eja___  __ewl___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999029305	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000308	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0056	
2.	107.0072	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.