PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:     

	BOARD DATE:           27 June 2002                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002066323

	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. W. E. Schnupp		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright		Chairperson	
	Ms. Kathleen A. Newman		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 that he be awarded Jump Wings (Parachutist Badge) and that it be reflected on his DD Form 214, Report of Separation.

3.  The applicant states his DD Form 214 shows that he completed Jump School at Fort Benning, Georgia, but the Parachutist Badge is not shown on the DD Form 214.  In support of his request, he submits a copy of his DD Form 214.

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center.  Information herein is derived from the document provided by the applicant and from information obtained from official sources.

5.  His DD Form 214 shows that he enlisted in the Regular Army for 3 years on 26 August 1949.  The separation form does not show his military occupational specialty but does show that he attended the Artillery School from 5 April to 24 May 1951, and the Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, from October 1950 to November 1950.  He was honorably discharged after 4 years of total service on 25 August 1953 in the grade of sergeant.

6.  His awards include the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany), the United Nations Service Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Korean Service Medal with 2 bronze service stars.  The Parachutist Badge is not shown as an authorized decoration on the DD Form 214.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides in pertinent part, that to be eligible for the basic Parachutist Badge, an individual must have satisfactorily completed the prescribed proficiency tests while assigned or attached to an airborne unit or the Airborne Department of the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, or have participated in at least one combat parachute jump.

8.  The same regulation provides, in pertinent part, that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded on a selective basis to soldiers who distinguish themselves from among their fellow soldiers by their exemplary conduct, efficiency and fidelity throughout a specified period of continuous enlisted active Federal military service.  For first award only, upon termination of service on or after 27 June 1950 of less than 3 years but more than 1 year.

9.  The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) is awarded for honorable active service for any period between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954

10.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, shows that the 32d Infantry Regiment, the applicant’s unit of assignment in Korea, was awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for the period 30 September 1950 to 27 July 1953.

11.  On 20 August 1999, the Department of Defense approved the acceptance and wear of the Korean War Service Medal to eligible US veterans of the Korean War, or their surviving next of kin.  The medal is provided at no cost to veterans.  The US Air Force has been designated the lead agency to receive and distribute the medals.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  While there are no records available to verify that the applicant was awarded the Parachutist Badge, his DD Form 214 shows that he successfully completed the Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, which the Board accepts as evidence that he completed the necessary prerequisites and is entitled to the Parachutist Badge. 

2.  Similarly, the available records do not show that he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal or the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.  However, he obviously served with exemplary conduct during his active duty service as evidenced by his promotion to pay grade E-5 and his honorable discharge, and thus would appear to be entitled to the Good Conduct Medal for the 3 years period from 26 August 1949 to 25 August 1952.  Likewise, by virtue of his period of active duty and service in Korea, he is entitled to the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

3.  The Korean War Service Medal is available to veterans of the Korean War. However, the determination of eligibility and the issuance of the award are handled by the US Air Force.  The applicant should provided a copy of his DD Form 214 (and DD Form 215, if appropriate) together with a request that he be issued the award to the US Air Force Personnel Center, 550 C Street West, Randolph AFB, Texas 78150-4714.

4.  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 the Parachutist Badge, the Good Conduct Medal for the period 26 August 1949 to 25 August 1952, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

BOARD VOTE:  

___kan__  ___inw___  ____rtd_  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__________Irene N. Wheelwright___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002066323	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020627	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT PLUS)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  107.00		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.