PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:		

	BOARD DATE:           11 September 2001                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001057272

	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. Gerald E. Vandenberg		Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Celia L. Adolphi		Chairperson	
	Mr. Curtis L. Greenway		Member	
	Mr. Donald P. Hupman, Jr.		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 reconsideration of his application to correct his records by showing the award of the Korean Service Medal (KSM) on his separation documents.

3.  The applicant states that the prior review was flawed in that it listed his unit as the 8063rd not the 8603rd.  He contends that this compounds the error at the time of his discharge and prevents him from receipt of the Korean Service Medal.  

4.  The Memorandum of Consideration reflecting the Board’s 27 February 2001 review of the case (AR2001049465) is incorporated herein by reference as if wholly set forth.

5.  The applicant submits no new evidence, however, the staff of the Board has determined that applicant’s submission shows an error in fact that requires referral to the Board for review of this case.

6.  As noted in the prior review the applicant’s records were lost or destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri.  

7.  The DD Form 214 submitted by the applicant shows that he enlisted in Syracuse, New York on 3 September 1952 for a period of 3 years.

8.  His most significant assignment was listed as the 8603rd Administrative Area Unit.  He was promoted to the rank of sergeant on 20 June 1955 and continued to serve until 18 August 1955, when he was honorably released from active duty and transferred to the Army Reserve.  He had served 2 years, 11 months and 16 days of active service of which 2 years and 19 days were spent overseas.  He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal.

9.  Included in the applicant’s prior submission was a copy of the General Orders Number 8 issued by Headquarters, Field Station, 8603rd DU, 7 July 1955 showing the applicant’s receipt of the Good Conduct Medal, and a copy of a DD Form 214 and a personal statement from a fellow soldier from the 8603rd showing receipt of both the Korean Service Medal and United Nations Service Medal.  These items are brought forward for reference purposes.

10.  During the preparation of this case the unit history for the 8603rd was reviewed.  This review shows that the 8603rd was a part of the 111th Signal Battalion during the Korean Conflict.  The battalion history of the 111th shows that the 111th and its component units were assigned to duties under the authority of the Commander in Chief, Far East for support of actions in Korea.

11.  Army Regulation (AR) 600-8-22, paragraph 5-8, provides for award of the Korean Service Medal.  In pertinent part, the regulation states that the Korean Service Medal is awarded for qualifying service in the theater of operations between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954.  To qualify for the award a member must have served in a unit within the territorial limits of Korea or adjacent waters, or in a unit designated as having furnished direct support of the military efforts in Korea and under the operational control of the Commander in Chief, Far East. 

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The record shows that the 8603rd was a unit designated as having furnished direct support of the military efforts in Korea.  This designation meets the criteria for award of the Korean Service Medal.

2.  It is therefore appropriate to correct the applicant’s records to show he was awarded the Korean Service Medal.

3.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, correcting the applicant’s records as recommended below would correct an error and rectify an injustice.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected to show the individual concerned was awarded the Korean Service Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

__cla____  __clg___  __dph___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Celia L. Adolphi___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001057272	
SUFFIX		
RECON	 	
DATE BOARDED	20010911	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	 	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT 	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.007	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.