PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            1 February 2001                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000042467

	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. Carolyn G. Wade		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Luther L. Santiful		Chairperson	
	Mr. James E. Anderholm		Member	
	Ms. Barbara J. Lutz 		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 Good Conduct Medal.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he served in the military with honor, that he never did anything wrong, and that he is entitled to the Good Conduct Medal.  The applicant believes he was not promoted beyond private first class/E-3 because of his military occupational specialty, MOS 310, Field Communication Crewman.

4.  The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Information herein was obtained from reconstructed records.  

5.  The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 13 August 1956 for 3 years.  After completion of all required military training, the applicant was awarded MOS 310.

6.  The applicant’s DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, shows the applicant was released from active duty under the provisions of paragraph 7, Army Regulation 635-205 by reason of early separation of overseas returnees with an honorable discharge.

7.  On 29 July 1959, the applicant was released from the active Army and transferred to the United States Army Reserve after completing 2 years, 11 months, and 17 days of creditable military service.

8.  Army Regulation 635-205, then in effect, provided in pertinent part for the early separation of overseas returnees with less than 90 days of service prior to ETS, expiration term of service.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides that the Good Conduct Medal (GCMDL) 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.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record confirms the applicant met the requirements for award of the Good Conduct Medal.

2.  The evidence of record does not support the applicant’s belief that he was not promoted beyond private first class/E-3 because of his MOS.

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 by issuing to the individual concerned a DD Form 215, Correction to DD Form 214, awarding him the Good Conduct Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

__lls____  __jea____  __bjl____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Luther L. Santiful___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000042467	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	200001	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19590729	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-205	
DISCHARGE REASON	Early separation of overseas returnees	
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	DASA	
ISSUES         1.	144.9201	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.