MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           11 September 2001                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001058727

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mrs. Nancy Amos		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 Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That his Report of Separation, WD AGO Form 53-55, be amended to show his name as P. F___ F___, not P___ F. F___ (i. e., that he goes by his middle name, not his first name).

APPLICANT STATES:  That he has always hated the name P___.  Since he was a little boy he was known by his middle name, not his first name.  When he is buried, he wants the name P. F___ F___ listed on his headstone.  When he was discharged, the company clerk entered his name as P___ F. F___ over his strong objections.  He provides his Military Leave of Absence from the Ford Motor Company, two letters dated 2 November 1951 and 29 October 1953, and an extract from a 22 August 1966 bulletin from the Ryan Aeronautical Company as supporting evidence.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire in 1973.  The information contained herein was obtained from alternate sources.

The applicant was inducted into the Army on 21 October 1942 and entered active service on 4 November 1942.  His record of induction is not available.  He was separated on 3 May 1946.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 lists his full first name and middle initial.

Apparently the applicant either remained in Europe or returned to Europe after his separation to work for the military as a civilian under the name P. F___ F___.

Phone conversation between an analyst with the Board and Memorial Program Services, Department of Veterans Affairs (1-800-697-6947) on 4 September 2001 indicated that while the VA will not enter nicknames on a headstone they will inscribe a given name with the veteran’s preferred usage.  

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  For historical purposes, the Army has an interest in maintaining the accuracy of its records.  The data and information contained in those records should actually reflect the conditions and circumstances that existed at the time the records were created.  In the absence of a showing of material error or injustice, this Board is reluctant to recommend that those records be changed.

2.  The applicant’s records are not available.  The Board presumes that he appropriately served on and was released from active duty under the name provided upon his entry onto active duty.  In addition, it appears that the applicant does not require the change requested for the reason he gives.  He should contact the Memorial Program Services department, Department of Veterans Affairs now for further details concerning headstones.

3.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__cla___  __clg___  __dph___  DENY APPLICATION

		    Carl W. S. Chun
		    Director, Army Board for Correction
    of Military Records

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001058727	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20010911	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	100.01	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.