PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:  30 January 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2000044773

	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. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas E. O’Shaughnessy		Member	
	Ms. Brenda F. Hirschi		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, in effect, that item 19 (Indochina or Korea Service Since August 5, 1964) of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) with a separation date of 31 August 1976 be corrected to show the entry “671003 – 681003 Vietnam and item 17b (Related Civilian Occupation and DOT
(Dictionary of Occupational Titles)) be corrected to show the entry “Translator” instead of the entry “DNA” (Dictionary Not Applicable).

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that item 19 of his DD Form 214 with a separation date of 31 August 1976 does not show his first tour in Vietnam and that item 17b should show the entry “Translator” instead of “DNA”.  In support of his application he submits several copies of his DD Forms 214 and a copy of his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record).

4.  The applicant’s military records show he enlisted on 11 May 1956 as a medical specialist.  He continued to serve through a series of continuous reenlistments until he was placed on the Army of the United States Retired List effective 1 September 1976.

5.  Item 19 of the applicant’s DD Form 214 with a separation date of 31 August 1976 shows the entry “710721 – 720403 Vietnam” which is his second tour.

6.  Item 31 (Foreign Service) of the applicant’s DA Form 20 shows that he served in Vietnam from 3 October 1967 to 3 October 1968 and from 21 July 1971 to 3 April 1972.

7.  The Board notes that the applicant’s first tour is not shown on his DD Form 214 with a separation date of 27 August 1970.

8.  Item 17a (Secondary Specialty Number and Title) shows the entry “04C4L Expert Linguist 760112/DNA” and item 17b of the applicant’s DD Form 214 with a separation date of 31 August 1976 shows the entry “DNA”. 

9.  Army Regulation 635-5 establishes the policies and procedures for completion and distribution of the DD Form 214.  In pertinent part, it states that item 
30 (Remarks) is used for entries required by Headquarters Department of the Army for which a separate block is not available and for completing entries that are too long for other blocks.  Department of the Army issued guidance to report service in Vietnam in item 30 (Remarks) of the DD Form 214.

10.  Army Regulation 635-5, in effect at the time, states in pertinent part, that the 
secondary military occupational specialty (SMOS) code and number will be entered in item 17a and b.  “If the specialty represented by the MOS has a related civilian occupation, enter in item 17b the appropriate job title and code number from the dictionary of occupational titles.  If not applicable, enter the entry DNA.”
CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board notes the applicant’s contention that his first Vietnam tour is not shown in item 19 of his DD Form 214 with a separation date of 31 August 1976.  The Board also notes that his first tour is not authorized to be shown on his DD Form 214 with a separation date of 31 August 1976; however, it is authorized to be shown on his DD Form 214 with a separation date of 27 August 1970.  Therefore, item 19 of his DD Form 214 with a separation date of 31 August 1976 is correct as currently constituted, and the applicant is entitled to correction of
item 30 (Remarks) of his DD Form 214 with a separation date of 27 August 1970 to show the entry “671003 – 681003 Vietnam”.

2.  The Board notes the applicant’s contention that item 17b of his DD Form 214 with a separation date of 31 August 1976 should show the entry “Translator” instead of the entry “DNA”.  However, in accordance with regulations, in effect at that time, the applicant’s specialty represented by his MOS in item 17a did not have a related civilian occupation.  Therefore, item 17b of the applicant’s DD Form 214 with a separation date of 31 August 1976 which shows the entry “DNA” is correct as currently constituted.

3.  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 for the individual concerned be corrected by showing the entry ‘671003 – 681003 Vietnam” in item 30 of the applicant’s DD Form 214 with a separation date of 27 August 1970.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__ao____  ___to___  __bh____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Arthur A. Omartian____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000044773	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20010130	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19760831	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200 C, 12	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY/GRANT 	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  1021		
2.  		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.