PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:           29 June 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000038578

	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	
	Mr. Kenneth H. Aucock		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. JoAnn H. Langston 		Chairperson	
	Mr. John N. Slone		Member	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		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 award of the Overseas Service Ribbon.

3.  The applicant states that he was in Germany from 30 August 1986 to            14 August 1987.  He had to leave Germany because he was injured on duty.  He was in the hospital for nine months and returned to duty on 16 May 1988.  According to the applicable provisions of Army Regulation 614-30, he should have received credit for completion of an overseas service tour.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he applicant entered on active duty on 31 December 1985 and had 11 months and 14 days of foreign service.  An order published by the Frankfurt Army Regional Medical Center Medical Holding Company shows that the applicant was assigned to the Medical Holding Company at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on 14 August 1987 and attached to the Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Maryland for hospitalization, treatment, rations, and quarters.  

5.  An order published by the Walter Reed Army Medical Center shows that the applicant was assigned from the Medical Holding Company to Fort Eustis, Virginia on 15 May 1988. 

6.  The applicant was released from active duty on 15 December 1988 at the expiration of his term of service.  

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides for award of the Overseas Service Ribbon to members of the Army for successful completion of overseas tours.  Soldiers must be credited with a normal overseas tour completion according to Army Regulation 614-30. 

8.  Army Regulation 614-30, in pertinent part, allows for award of overseas tour credit for soldiers evacuated to and hospitalized in the United States or area of residence when the cause of the evacuation is wounds resulting from enemy or hostile action, injury or disease determined to be in line of duty, or aggravation of one of the those conditions determined to be in line of duty.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was evacuated to the United States for hospitalization as he has stated; however, the reason for his reassignment, and whether or not his injury or disease was incurred in line of duty cannot be ascertained from the information available.  The Board believes, however, that any doubt should be resolved in favor of the applicant.  Consequently, the applicant should be credited with completion of an overseas service tour.  He is entitled to the award of the Overseas Service Ribbon.

2.  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 by showing that the individual concerned was credited with completion of an overseas service tour and was awarded the Overseas Service Ribbon.  

BOARD VOTE:  

___mhm_  ___jns__  ___jhl___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000038578	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000629	
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.  125	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.