PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:          

	BOARD DATE:               11 June 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:      AR2002068549

	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. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Mr. Roger W. Able		Member	
	Mr. Mr. Harry B. Oberg		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 the Armed Forces of the United States) to show award of the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

3.  The applicant states that he completed basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Dix, New Jersey and was assigned to Arlington, Virginia.  He states that he was then assigned to a unit in Africa with the "8604 AAU", U.S. Army.  The applicant submits a copy of his DD Form 214 in support of his application.

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show he was inducted in the Army on 26 February 1951.  He completed basic and advanced individual training and was assigned to a Field Station in East Africa.  The applicant was honorably released from active duty on 5 February 1953 in the rank of sergeant.

5.  The applicant's DD Form 214 does not show entitlement to any awards in item 27 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized).

6.  There is no evidence the applicant received the first award of the Good Conduct Medal.  There also is no evidence the applicant was disqualified by his chain of command from receiving the Good Conduct Medal.  His DD Form 214 shows "NO DAYS LOST" in item 38 (Remarks).

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 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.  Although there is no automatic entitlement to the Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified.  

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service for any period between 27 July 1950 through 27 July 1954, 1 January 1961 through 14 August 1974, and 2 August 1990 through 30 November 1995.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant is entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal based on completion of qualifying service from 26 February 1951 to 5 February 1953 ending with termination of a period of Federal military service.  Therefore, his DD Form 214 will be amended to show award of the Good Conduct Medal.

2.  The applicant served a period of qualifying service for award of the National Defense Service Medal; therefore, he is entitled to correction of records to show this award.

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 the individual concerned was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

FNE____  RTD_____  RWA____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Fred N. Eichorn_______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002068549	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020611	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT 	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	Mr. Schneider	
ISSUES         1.	107.0056	
2.	107.0069	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.