PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:          

	BOARD DATE:                24 January 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AR2001062777  

	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. Beverly A. Young		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. George D. Paxson		Chairperson	
	Mr. Walter T. Morrison		Member	
	Mr. Richard T. Dunbar		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 correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) to show award of the Army Commendation Medal.

3.  The applicant states that he never received the Army Commendation Medal as evidenced by the letter he submitted with his application.  He also states that the paperwork for award of the Army Commendation Medal should have been forwarded through the various chains of command.  He states that the Rheinau Railway Maintenance Activity was deactivated shortly after the citation for the Army Commendation Medal was initiated.  In support of his application, he submits a supplemental letter and a copy of a proposed citation and a recommendation for award of the Army Commendation Medal.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted in the Army on 7 November 1956 and remained on active duty through a series of reenlistments. He completed several overseas tours to include Germany, Korea and Vietnam.  The applicant retired in the rank of sergeant first class on 30 November 1976.

5.  The applicant’s service personnel records contain four DD Forms 214.  His discharge document which covers his last period of service does not list the Army Commendation Medal as an authorized award.

6.  The applicant provided a copy of a proposed citation for award of the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service as chief of the activities supply division in the U.S. Army Railway Maintenance Activity, Rheinau Germany.  This award covered the period 17 May 1971 to 16 June 1973.  The applicant’s service in Germany continued through 3 May 1974.

7.  There are no orders in the applicant’s records which show he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.  There is no evidence that this award was acted upon by the appropriate authority.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Army Commendation Medal may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.  As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There are no orders available to the Board which authorize award of the Army Commendation Medal.  

2.  The applicant provided a proposed citation for award of the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service in Germany which should have been acted upon prior to the end of his tour in Germany, but apparently was not. 

3.  The Board noted the applicant’s numerous achievements and high degree of responsibility as Chief of the Activities Supply Division in Rheinau Germany.

4.  Based on the foregoing, the Board has determined that the draft citation for award of the Army Commendation Medal is sufficient as a basis for award of the Army Commendation Medal.  Therefore, the applicant will be awarded the Army Commendation Medal and his records will be corrected to show this award.

5.  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 amending the DD Form 214 (with a separation date of 30 November 1976) of the individual concerned to show he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

GDP____  RTD____  WTM____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		George D. Paxson______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001062777	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020124	
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.	107.0020	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.