PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           4 May 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000034939

	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. Luther L. Santiful		Chairperson	
	Mr. James P. Stueve		Member	
	Ms. Carol Jo Suiter		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 social security number (SSN) be corrected on all his records and that his DD Form 214, Report of Separation be corrected to add his correct SSN and his Southwest Asia service medals.  He also states that he has not yet received his Honorable Discharge Certificate.

3.  The applicant states that when he enlisted, personnel at the Military Entrance Processing Station entered his SSN incorrectly.  His correct SSN is 55_-__-___, not 58_-__-___.  He provides a copy of his social security card as supporting evidence.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the U. S. Army Reserve (Delayed Entry Program) on 13 May 1987 and in the Regular Army on 15 May 1987.  His enlistment contract and all other documents on file except for his enlistment Report of Medical Examination (which shows his correct SSN) show his SSN as 58_-__-___.

5.  The applicant served in Southwest Asia for Operation Desert Shield/Storm from 9 August 1990 through 8 March 1991.

6.  On 14 May 1991, the applicant was released from active duty.  His DD Form 214, item 13 does not list any Operation Desert Shield/Storm service medals.  Item 6 shows his reserve obligation terminal date as 12 May 1995.  Item 3 shows his SSN as 58_-__-___.

7.  On 16 January 1996, the Army Reserve Personnel Center published orders discharging the applicant from the U. S. Army Reserve effective that date.  The orders stated that the discharge certificate and discharge orders were mailed to him at his last known address on 27 February 1996.  His discharge orders show his SSN as 58_-__-___.

8.  On 1 December 1999, the National Personnel Records Center authorized issuance of the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) and (Saudi Arabia) to the applicant.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that service in the Persian Gulf War is to be recognized by award of the Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM) to Army members who participated in Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm in the designated area on or after 2 August 1990.  A bronze service star is authorized for the Defense of Saudi Arabia (2 August 1990 to 16 January 1991), the Liberation and Defense of Kuwait (17 January to 11 April 1991) and the Cease Fire Campaign (12 April 1991 to 30 November 1995).

10.  The Kuwait Liberation Medal (SA), awarded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was approved on 3 January 1992 and is awarded to those members who participated in the Persian Gulf War from 17 January to 28 February 1991.
11.  The Secretary of Defense accepted an offer by the Government of Kuwait to award the Kuwait Liberation Medal (K) to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm between 2 August 1990 and 31 August 1993.

12.  Army Regulation 635-5 prescribes the separation documents prepared for soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army.  It establishes standardized policy for the preparation of the DD Form 214.  In pertinent part it states that 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.  In the absence of a showing of material error or injustice, this Board is reluctant to recommend that those records be changed.

2.  The applicant served on and was released from active duty under the SSN entered on his enlistment contract.  All documents except one show his SSN as 58_-__-___.  However, it would be appropriate to furnish the applicant a Transcript of Military Records, DA Form 1569 showing his correct SSN.

3.  The evidence of record shows the applicant served in Southwest Asia during Operations Desert Shield/Storm and was authorized issuance of the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) and (Saudi Arabia).  However, he is also authorized the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service stars.

4.  The evidence of record shows that the applicant’s Honorable Discharge Certificate was forwarded to him.  However, since it appears he never received it, it would be appropriate to reissue the certificate.

5.  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 Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service stars and by adding this award plus the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) and the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) to his DD Form 214.
2.  That the applicant’s Honorable Discharge Certificate, effective date              16 January 1996, be reissued to him.

3.  That the Army Review Boards Agency Support Division furnish the applicant a Transcript of Military Records, DA Form 1569 showing his correct SSN.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__lls___  __jps___  __cjs___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			Luther L. Santiful
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000034939	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000504	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	100.09	
2.	110.04	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.