PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:           27 June 2002                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002066628

	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. Edmund P. Mercanti		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 his Social Security Number (SSN) on General Orders 4602, which awarded him the Purple Heart (PH), be corrected.  He also requests that his PH be added to his DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge.

3.  The applicant states that his SSN was incorrectly entered on the orders awarding him the PH, and his PH was inadvertently omitted from his DD Form 214.

4.  In support of his application he submits a copy of the orders awarding him the PH.  Those orders reflect the applicant’s correct name, grade and unit, and the first five digits of his SSN are correct.  However, the last four digits of his SSN, was recorded as .  He also submits a copy of the certificate he was awarded with his PH.  That certificate also shows the last four digits of his SSN as .

5.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted on active duty on 10 June 1969, was awarded the military occupational specialty of armor intelligence specialist, and was promoted to pay grade E-4.  He served in Vietnam from 7 November 1969 through 24 October 1970.  There is no record of any reduction in grade or any other unfavorable personnel action being taken against the applicant.

6.  He was honorably released from active duty on 9 June 1971.  The DD Form 214 he was issued shows that he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with 2 bronze service stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar, and the Army Commendation Medal.  

7.  All of the applicant’s military records, including his record of induction and DD Form 214, show the last four digits of the applicant’s SSN as .

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  This period is 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  It is evident that the wrong SSN was recorded on the orders and certificate awarding the applicant the PH.

2.  It is also evident that the applicant’s PH was inadvertently omitted from his DD Form 214.
3.  In addition, it would appear that the applicant should have been awarded the Good Conduct Medal.

4.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by:

	a.  issuing to the individual concerned an amendment to General Orders Number 4602 dated 13 May 1970 which shows his correct SSN;

	b.  issuing to him a new certificate awarding him the PH which shows his correct SSN; 

	c.  awarding him the Good Conduct Medal; and

	c.  adding the PH and the Good Conduct Medal to his DD Form 214.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

___kaw__  ___inw__  __rtds_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__________Irene N. Wheelwright______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002066628	
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	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.