PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:           10 OCTOBER 2001                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001059656

	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. Deborah L. Brantley		Senior Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Luther L. Santiful		Chairperson	
	Mr. Charles Gainor		Member	
	Mr. Joe R. Schroeder		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 his records be corrected to show that he was awarded an Army Commendation Medal and an Army Achievement Medal.  He states the awards were omitted from his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty).  In support of his request he submits copies of his award certificates.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty on 
4 September 1979.  After successful completion of basic and advanced individual training he was initially assigned to Germany.  Shortly after his assignment to Germany, however, he was medically evacuated to Walter Reed Army Medical Center and ultimately assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he performed duties in the telecommunications field.  

4.  In March 1983 the applicant was awarded an Army Achievement Medal for his meritorious service while operating the “1st Corps Support Command M72 LAW Range” on 25 February 1983.  On 4 October 1983 the applicant was promoted to pay grade E-5.  In December 1983 the applicant was awarded an Army Commendation Medal for meritorious achievement during his deployment to Grenada as part of Operation “Urgent Fury.”  Item 27 (remarks) on the applicant’s DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record), and his award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, confirmed his deployment to Grenada during the period for which he received the award.

5.  The applicant’s performance evaluation reports, issued between 1983 and 1985, were exceptional and essentially noted that the applicant was an outstanding NCO (noncommissioned officer) with unlimited potential.  He successfully completed several challenging training courses, including the Primary Leadership Development Course, a Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Defense Course, and a Battalion Training Management System Course.

6.  On 3 October 1985 the applicant departed AWOL (absent without leave).  He returned to military control in March 1992 and was ultimately discharged under other than honorable conditions, on 24 April 1992, in lieu of trial by court-martial. The applicant was not available to sign his DD Form 214.  Although the document did reflect the applicant’s other awards and decorations, it did not reflect entitlement to the Army Achievement Medal or the Army Commendation Medal.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, which establishes the policies and procedure for the award of personal decorations, notes that decorations, such as the Army Commendation and Army Achievement Medals, are announced in permanent orders by the commander authorized to make the awards.  It also notes, that in view of the historical value of the award certificate and the acts or service it represents, it is imperative that it be prepared with care so that its appearance is professional and dignified.  
CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Although the Board notes that orders confirming the awards were not in the applicant’s available records, the decorations are consistent with the applicant’s outstanding service prior to 1985 when he departed AWOL.  His records confirm that he was deployed to Grenada during the period for which he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.  The Board also notes that there is no evidence which disputes the information that he operated the 1st Corps Support Command M72 LAW Range in February 1983 which resulted in his award of an Army Achievement Medal.

2.  In the interest of justice, the Board accepts the award certificates as confirmation that the applicant was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal in 1983 and as such concludes that he is entitled to have the awards recorded on his DD Form 214.

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 showing that the individual concerned was awarded an Army Commendation Medal and an Army Achievement Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

__LLS __  ___CG __  __JRS __  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Luther L. Santiful        
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001059656	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20011010	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.