PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:           20 AUGUST 2002                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002071856

	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. Kenneth H. Aucock		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Melinda M. Darby		Chairperson	
	Mr. Roger W. Able		Member	
	Mr. Curtis L. Greenway		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 DD Form 214 be corrected to show that he had training as an airplane and engine mechanic and as a helicopter mechanic, and to show that his most significant duty assignment was the Air Section, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 40th Infantry Division, not Headquarters Company, 307th Infantry Division as shown.  He also requests reconsideration of his request to correct his record to show his rank as sergeant first class vice private first class.  He states that ranks were frozen when he was in Korea in 1952 and 1953.  He was told that he was supposed to hold the rank of sergeant first class.  He came home as a private first class.  He is not asking for back pay or compensation of any kind, but only wants his rank of his            DD Form 214 corrected.

3.  The applicant states that his most significant duty assignment was with the above mentioned unit of the 40th Infantry Division in Korea, and that he did successfully complete both the aircraft and engine school training course, MOS (military occupational specialty) 3008 and the helicopter school, MOS 3995.  He states that his rank on his DD Form 214 should be sergeant first class.  He has sent numerous applications to correct the errors, to no avail.

4.  The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Information herein was obtained from the applicant and from reconstructed personnel records.

5.  Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in a memorandum prepared to reflect the Board's original consideration of his request to correct his rank from private first class to sergeant first class on          4 May 2000 (AR1999031124).

6.  The applicant’s 15 September 1943 separation qualification record             (DA Form 493) shows that he completed a 13 week aircraft and engine mechanic liaison planes course and a 6 week rotary wing mechanic course at San Marcos Air Force Base in Texas, and that he was assigned as a rotary wing crew chief, MOS 3995, for seven months; and as an aircraft and engine mechanic crew chief, MOS 3008, of a liaison type aircraft for 14 months.  The highest grade that he held was private first class.  Certificates of proficiency from the Air Force Air Training Command attest to his completion of training as an Army helicopter mechanic in May 1952 and an Army airplane mechanic in March 1952. 

7.  The applicant’s record contains no evidence of an assignment to a             40th Infantry Division unit.

8.  The applicant has provided no evidence to support his claim that he was promoted to sergeant first class during his military service.  This Board stands by the conclusion reached by the 4 May 2000 Board that in the absence of [promotion] orders, there is no evidence that he was promoted.
CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant completed a 6 week rotary wing mechanic course in May 1952 at San Marcos Air Force Base in Texas, in addition to the aircraft and engine mechanic course shown on his DD Form 214.  That course should also be included on his DD Form 214.

2.  There is no evidence, nor has the applicant provided any, to show that he was promoted to sergeant first class; nor is there any evidence to show that he was assigned to a 40th Infantry Division unit.  Consequently, because of insufficient evidence, his request concerning these matters cannot be granted. 

3.  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 showing that the applicant completed a 6 week rotary wing mechanic course at San Marcos Air Force Base in Texas in May 1952.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__MMD__  __RWA__  __CLG__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___ Melinda M. Darby___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002071856	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020820	
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.	110.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.