PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            24 May 2000       
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000037028

	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.  

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Deborah L. Brantley		Senior Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Sloan		Chairperson	
	Mr. Mark D. Manning		Member	
	Ms. Meta Waller		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 awards and decorations associated with his military service.  He states, in effect, that his separation report only reflects entitlement to the National Defense Service Medal and he believes he is entitled to other awards.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant was inducted and entered active duty on 5 August 1969.  He was awarded a sharpshooter badge with rifle bar on 26 September 1969 while undergoing training.

4.  Following completion of training the applicant was assigned to Germany.  On 
2 October 1970, apparently while on leave in Texas, the applicant was involved in a motor vehicle accident and sustained multiple injuries.  As a result of his injuries he was ultimately retired by reason of disability on 6 July 1971.  His separation report reflects entitlement to the National Defense Service Medal.

5.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  This period is 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Although there is no automatic entitlement to the Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified.  Current practice requires that the commander provide written notice of nonfavorable consideration and permits the individual to respond.  The applicant's conduct and efficiency ratings during his 1 year, 11 months, and 2 days of active Federal service were consistently excellent.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms the applicant was awarded a sharpshooter badge with rifle bar which was omitted from his separation report.  He is entitled to have the badge recorded on his separation document.

2.  The applicant completed a qualifying period of service for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal on 6 July 1971 when he was retired by reason of disability. There is no evidence in the applicant's official military personnel file that his commander ever disqualified him from award of the Good Conduct Medal nor any evidence which would serve as a basis to now disqualify him.  As such the applicant should be awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 
5 August 1969 through 6 July 1971.

3.  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:

a.  by showing that the individual concerned was awarded a sharpshooter badge with rifle bar; and

b.  by awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 
5 August 1969 through 6 July 1971.

BOARD VOTE:  

___jns__  ___mdm__  ___mw___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000037028	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000524	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	Grant	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.