PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           25 JULY 2002                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002074029

	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:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor		Chairperson	
	Mr. Richard T. Dunbar		Member	
	Mr. Kenneth W. Lapin		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 the social security number (SSN) on the             DA Form 638 which resulted in the award of the Meritorious Service Medal be corrected.   

3.  The applicant states that the social security number reflected on that form is not hers. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that she entered on active duty in 1978 and retired from the Army on 31 May 1998 with more than 20 years of service.  Her records are consistent, reflecting her SSN as shown on her application to this Board.  Her DD Form 214 does not show award of the Meritorious Service Medal.

5.  On 31 March 1998 her supervisor recommended her for award of the Meritorious Service Medal for the period 14 February 1987 to 31 March 1998.  That recommendation was approved on 13 July 1998 subsequent to her retirement.  Both pages of the DA Form 638, reflect a SSN not the applicant’s.  

6.  A copy of the certificate awarding the applicant the Meritorious Service Medal, which she submits with her request, shows that the period of the award was from 14 February 1987 to 31 March 1998.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board concludes that the DA Form 638 is a recommendation and approval of the award of the Meritorious Service Medal for the applicant.  Therefore, the SSN on the DA Form 638 is not hers and is incorrect.  

2.  Consequently, the SSN on the DA Form 638 should be corrected as the applicant has requested in her application to this Board.

3.  The applicant was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.  That award should be reflected on her DD Form 214.

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

RECOMMENDATION:

That the 31 March 1998 DA Form 638, recommending and approving the award of the Meritorious Service Medal be corrected to reflect the SSN as shown on her application to this Board; and that all her records be corrected to show award of the Meritorious Service Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

__RVO__  __RTD __  __KWL__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Raymond V. ’Connnor__              
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002074029	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020725	
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.	100	
2.	10	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.