PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:     

	BOARD DATE:          09 SEPTEMBER 2003                    
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2003086691

	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. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Member	
	Ms. Karen A. Heinz		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 records be corrected to show award of the Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.  

3.  The applicant states that those awards were not reflected on his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation).  He encloses a copy of his DD Form 214, an example of a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214), and a copy of a general order awarding the Distinguished Unit Citation (now the Presidential Unit Citation) to the 3d Battalion, 180th Infantry Regiment.

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 alternate sources. 

5.  The applicant's DD Form 214 shows that he was inducted into the Army on   21 May 1951, served in Korea as an infantryman during the Korean War, and was released from active duty in the rank of corporal on 24 February 1953.  He had 11 months and 7 days of foreign service and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the United Nations Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with three bronze service stars, and the Purple Heart.  That form shows that he was wounded in action on 13 June 1952.

6.  A 17 May 1952 medical record shows the applicant's unit as Company K, 180th Infantry Regiment.  A 12 June 1952 medical record shows that the applicant was lightly wounded in action on 12 June 1952, treated at the 180th Infantry Regiment collection station, and returned to duty.

7.  On 18 September 2001 the National Personnel Records Center authorized the issuance of the Presidential Unit Citation to the applicant.

8.  The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service for any period between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954.

9.  The Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register shows that the 3d Battalion, 180th Infantry Regiment, was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for its actions during the period the applicant was assigned to that organization.

10.  The Army 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.

11.  As a matter of information, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Korean War, the Government of the Republic of Korea issued the Korean War Service Medal to pay tribute to eligible Korean War veterans for their historic endeavors to preserve the freedom of the Republic of Korea and the free world.  On 20 August 1999, the Department of Defense approved acceptance and wear of this foreign award to eligible US veterans of the Korean War, or their surviving next of kin.  The medal is provided at no cost to the veterans.

12.  The Department of Defense has assigned responsibility to the Department of the Air Force for distribution of the Korean War Service Medal to eligible veterans or their surviving next of kin.  To apply, veterans must provide a copy of their discharge paper (DD Form 214) to the Awards and Decorations Section, Headquarters, Air Force Personnel Center, 550 C Street West, Suite 12, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas 78150-4714.  A sample request form is being provided to the applicant.  Once the Korean War Service Medal has been authorized by the Department of the Air Force, the applicant may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records to add this foreign award to his DD Form 214.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant is entitled to award of the National Defense Service Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.  

2.  The applicant served his country faithfully and honorably.  He is entitled to award of the Army Good Conduct Medal.

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 that the individual concerned was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, and the Army Good Conduct Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

__FNE __  __MHM__  ___KAH_  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____ Fred N. Eichorn _____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003086691	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20030909	
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.