MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:            5 March 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001060588

	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	
	Ms. P. A. Castle		Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas B. Redfern, III		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:  In effect, that his general discharge be upgraded to honorable.  That the report of discharge (DD Form 214) be corrected by deleting the words, “failure to meet acceptable standards for continued military service.”  He requests that the Army acknowledge and compensate him for an eye injury he received and he requests the award of the war ribbon given to soldiers when the Vietnam War ended.

APPLICANT STATES:  In effect, that he was a perfect soldier.  He received no article 15’s or disciplinary actions during his term of service and for these reasons his discharge should be upgraded to honorable and the narrative reason for discharge on his DD Form 214 should be removed.  That upon the first week of arrival to his first assignment he was viciously attacked.  As a result of that beating his eye was injured and after discharge it progressively worsened to the point of required surgery.  He states that he did not receive a separation physical and this is the reason the Army missed the injury.  He also states that when the Vietnam War ended he did not receive his war ribbon.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

He enlisted in the Army on 23 October 1974, for 3 years.  He started his initial training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, however, he encountered lung problems so he was reassigned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for advanced individual training as a field wireman.  He was advanced to the grade of E-2 on 18 December 1974.

The facts and circumstances surrounding the applicant’s disciplinary actions are not present in the available records.  However, on 9 June 1975, the applicant’s commander initiated a recommendation to separate him from the military service under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 5-37.  The commander specifically cited the applicant’s inability to adapt emotionally, his poor attitude, his failure to demonstrate promotion potential, two episodes of AWOL, receipt of six different formal counseling sessions, and receipt of three Articles 15.  The commander recommended that he be furnished a General Discharge Certificate.

The applicant indicated in his statement of acknowledgment that he voluntarily accepted this discharge and waived making any statement.

The appropriate authority approved the recommendation for discharge on         26 June 1975, and directed he be issued a General Discharge Certificate.

Accordingly, he was discharged under honorable conditions on 26 June 1975.  He completed 8 months and 4 days of active Federal service.  He had no foreign service.

There is no evidence in the available records to substantiate the applicant’s claim that he was viciously attacked nor do any of the records available indicate the applicant was treated for wounds incurred in an altercation.

The applicant submitted a copy of a DD Form 214 that states as reason for discharge, “failure to meet acceptable standards for continued military service.”  However, the DD Form 214 in the applicant’s military record states as reason for discharge, “paragraph 5-37, Army Regulation 635-200.”  

The applicant’s request for a war ribbon is assumed to be a request for the National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) which was awarded to service members whose service was honorable prior to 14 August 1974.

On 13 June 2001 the applicant applied to the Army Discharge Review Board for upgrade of his discharge.  Because his application was not submitted within that board’s 15-year stature of limitations, it was forwarded to this Board for consideration.

Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.  Chapter 5 of that regulation provided authorization for separation for the convenience of the government.  Paragraph 5-37, in pertinent part, provided for a discharge based upon inability to adapt, poor attitude, and failure to demonstrate promotion potential.  A general discharge under honorable conditions was normally issued.

Army Regulation 635-40 states that disability compensation is not an entitlement acquired by reason of service-incurred illness or injury; rather, it is provided to soldiers whose service is interrupted and they can no longer continue to reasonably perform because of a physical disability incurred or aggravated in service.  When a solider is being processed for separation or retirement for reasons other than physical disability, continued performance of assigned duty commensurate with his or her rank or grade until the soldier is scheduled for separation or retirement, creates a presumption that the soldier is fit.

Army Regulation 672-5-1, then in effect, provided, in pertinent part, that the National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) was issued to soldiers who served honorably on active duty between 1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974.

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.  The applicant's administrative separation was accomplished in compliance with applicable regulations with no indication of procedural errors which would tend to jeopardize his rights.

2.  His DD Form 214 accurately reflects the appropriate separation authority and narrative reason for separation in item number 9c.

3.  The applicant was not eligible for the NDSM during the period of his enlistment.  Accordingly, there is no basis to award it to him at this time.

4.  The applicant’s contentions regarding an attack that subsequently caused him to later have an operation on his eye has been noted by the Board but are not supported either by evidence submitted with his application or the evidence of record.

5.  In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy this requirement.

6.  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

___fe ___  ___tbr___  ___dh___  DENY APPLICATION

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

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001060588	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	2002/03/05	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  189	110.0000	
2.  191	110.0200	
3.  46	107.0000	
4.  257	122.0100	
5.		
6.