MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            4 May 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000035006

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mr. Jessie B. Strickland		Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Luther L. Santiful		Chairperson	
	Mr. James P. Steuve		Member	
	Ms. Carol Jo Suiter		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
            records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  In effect, that he be awarded the National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) and the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Medal.

APPLICANT STATES:  That his report of separation (WD AGO Form 53-55) does not reflect his entitlement to the NDSM or the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Medal.  He further states that he served in the Pacific during World War II and that everyone received the NDSM.  He also states that he needs the medals authorized so he can join a service organization (VFW).  In support of his application he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records were destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri which destroyed millions of service records.  However, his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he enlisted at Fort Sheridan, Illinois on 20 March 1946 for a period of 18 months and was trained as a clerk typist.   

He departed for the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) on 10 December 1946, arrived there on 2 January 1947, and served in that theater until he was returned to the United States on 20 June 1947.

On 20 September 1947, he was honorably discharged in the rank of private first class at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas due to the expiration of his term of service.  He had served 18 months of total active service and received no decorations or awards.

Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides the criteria for awards of the NDSM and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.  It states, in pertinent part,  that the NDSM was established by Executive Order 10448, 22 April 1953, as amended by Executive Order 11265, 11 January 1966 and Executive Order 12776, 18 October 1991.  It is awarded for honorable active service for any period between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954, both dates inclusive, between 1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974, both dates inclusive, and 2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995, both dates inclusive.

The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was established by Executive Order 9265 (War Department Bulletin 56, 6 November 1942), as amended by Executive Order 9706, 15 March 1947.  It is awarded for service in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1. In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy the aforementioned requirement.

2.  The NDSM was not authorized until 1953 and only included service dating back to 1950.  The applicant was discharged in 1947 and therefore was not eligible to receive the NDSM.

3.  The provisions for award of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Medal required service in that theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946.  The applicant did not arrive in that theater until 2 January 1947, approximately 10 months after that medal had ceased to be authorized. 

4.  Accordingly, the applicant was not eligible for either of the awards that he is requesting.

5.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

___cs___  __ls ____  ____jps__  DENY APPLICATION

						Karl F. Schneider
						Director, Army Review Boards Agency

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000035006	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	2000/05/04	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  110	107.0064/APCM	
2.  115	107.0069/NDSM	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.