PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:            9 July 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002070602

	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. Hubert S. Shaw, Jr.		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Joann H. Langston		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas B. Redfern		Member	
	Mr. Roger W. Able		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 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show award of the Meritorious Service Medal.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he received his retirement award in the mail after he had separated from active duty and he would now like it added to his discharge document.

4.  In support of his application, the applicant submitted a copy of a DA Form 638 (Recommendation for Award) which recommended that he receive the Meritorious Service Medal as a retirement award.  The applicant also submitted a copy of his DD Form 214 with a separation date of 28 February 2001.

5.  The applicant’s military records show that he completed over 20 years of active Federal service as a unit supply specialist.  He was separated from active duty effective 28 February 2001 and transferred to the United States Army Control Group (Retired).

6.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show the Meritorious Service Medal as an authorized award in item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized).

7.  The DA Form 638 submitted by the applicant shows that he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal based on Fort Leonard Wood (Missouri) Permanent Orders 52-23, dated 21 February 2001. 

8.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) provides instructions for the preparation of the DD Form 214.  It states, in pertinent part, that 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) will be completed to show the decorations awarded or authorized during the period covered by the DD Form 214.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal as his retirement award as verified by orders.

2.  The applicant’s retirement award was not placed on his DD Form 214 at the time of his separation from active duty.

3.  Based on the foregoing, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records to show that he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

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 Meritorious Service Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

__JHL___  __TBR__  __RWA__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Ms. Joann H. Langston__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002070602	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020709	
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.	107.0017.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.