PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:            17 October 2000   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000042634

	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. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor		Chairperson	
	Ms. Barbara J. Ellis		Member	
	Ms. Linda D. Simmons		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 correction of her DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) to show that she served in the Women Army Corps (WAC); and award of the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Meritorious Unit Commendation.  She also requests that the handwritten entry “Chap [chapter] 6 AR [Army Regulation] 635-200 SPD [separation program designators] KDB” in item 9c (Authority and Reason) be deleted from her DD Form 214.  

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that her “Proof Sheet” from the Women in Military Service for America supports her claims.  She also contends that the handwritten entry in item 9c (Authority and Reason) should be deleted since it was not there when she signed her DD Form 214 on 14 March 1977.  In support of her application, she submits a copy of her DD Form 214; a “Proof Sheet” on herself from the Women in Military Service for America; an Honorable Discharge Certificate dated 14 March 1977; a copy of an Honor Graduate diploma for the Tactical Microwave Systems Operation and Maintenance Course; and a copy of a Distinguished Graduate award.      

4.  The applicant’s military records show that she enlisted in the Regular Army on 17 September 1974 in the WAC for a period of 3 years.  She served as a tactical microwave systems operator and was honorably discharged on 14 March 1977 under the provisions of Army Regulation, Chapter 6, for hardship.
   
5.  Item 5 (Department, Component and Branch or Class) on the applicant’s DD Form 214 reflects her service in the WAC.  Therefore, this portion of the applicant’s request to correct her DD Form 214 to show that she served in the WAC will not be discussed further in these Proceedings.

6.  The applicant’s DD Form 214, which was authenticated in her own hand, does not show the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal or the Meritorious Unit Commendation as authorized awards. 

7.  There is no evidence in the applicant’s personnel records which shows she was recommended for or received the first award of the Good Conduct Medal.  There also is no indication in the available records that she was disqualified from receiving this award.  There is no indication of indiscipline or other adverse action in the applicant’s records.

8.  DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 22 February 2000, shows the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri, determined that the applicant was entitled to the National Defense Service Medal.

9.  There is no evidence in the applicant’s personnel service records that she was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation or otherwise met the qualifications for this award.

10.  Item 9c (Authority and Reason) on her DD Form 214 shows “- - - - - [and the handwritten entry] Chap 6 AR 635-200 SPD KDB“.

11.  Records show the applicant submitted a voluntary request for separation due to hardship on 27 January 1977.  Her request was approved on 2 March 1977 and the approval authority directed that she be discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation, Chapter 6, with SPD “KDB”.        

12.  Army Regulation 635-5-1 (Separation Program Designator Codes) states the reason for discharge based on separation code “KDB” is “Hardship” and the regulatory authority is Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 6.      

13.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) 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.  

14.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 states, in pertinent part, that the Meritorious Unit Commendation is awarded for outstanding wartime service of at least six continuous months.  Stateside units and those outside the area of operations are excluded.

15.  Army Regulation 635-5 establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214.  In pertinent part, it directs that the regulatory authority authorizing the separation and the narrative reason for separation, as shown in Army Regulation 635-5-1 based on the regulatory authority, will be entered in item 9c of the DD Form 214.  

16.  Army Regulation 635-5-1 (Separation Program Designator Codes) prescribes the specific authorities (regulatory, statutory, or other directives), the reasons for the separation of members from active military service, and the separation program designators to be used for these stated reasons.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant is entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 17 September 1974 through 14 March 1977 based on completion of a period of qualifying service ending with termination of a period of Federal military service.

2.  The applicant was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of her DD Form 214 to show award of the National Defense Service Medal.

3.  The Board noted the applicant’s “Proof Sheet” from the Women in Military Service for America which shows that she is entitled to the Army Meritorious Unit Commendation.  However, the Meritorious Unit Commendation is awarded for outstanding wartime service of at least six continuous months.  There is no evidence available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows that she served in the Army during wartime.  Therefore, she is not entitled to correction of her military records to show award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation. 

4.  The Board noted the applicant’s request to delete the handwritten entry “Chap 6 AR 635-200 SPD KDB” in item 9c (Authority and Reason) on her DD Form 214 since it was not there when she signed her DD Form 214 on 14 March 1977.  However, evidence of record shows that the applicant was in fact discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation, Chapter 6, for hardship.  Also, the governing regulation states that the regulatory authority authorizing the separation and the narrative reason for separation will be entered in item 9c of the DD Form 214.  Therefore, regardless of the handwritten entry, item 9c of the applicant’s DD Form 214 is correct as currently constituted. 

5.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 17 September 1974 through 14 March 1977 and the National Defense Service Medal. 

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

BOARD VOTE:  

RVO____  BJE____  LDS_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_Raymond V. O’Connor__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000042634	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20001017	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19770314	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200 Chapter 6	
DISCHARGE REASON	Hardship	
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0056	
2.	107.0069	
3.	107.0034	
4.	100.0000	
5.		
6.