PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           28 OCTOBER 2003                    
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2003086760

	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. Deborah L. Brantley		Senior Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond J. Wagner		Chairperson	
	Ms. Linda D. Simmons		Member	
	Ms. Marla J. N. Troup		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 that he was awarded the Parachutist Badge, and that he is entitled to the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, and a Presidential Unit Citation.  He states, in effect, that he served in Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and that upon returning from overseas he was discharged.  He states that he subsequently was told he was entitled to the awards in question and when reviewing his separation document also noted that his Parachutist Badge had been omitted.  Other than his self-authored statement, he submits no evidence in support of his request.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate that the applicant entered active duty in October 1987 and on 1 April 1988 was awarded the Parachutist Badge.  Orders confirming award of the badge were published by the United States Army Infantry Center at Fort Benning, Georgia.  The badge, however, was omitted from his separation document.

4.  The applicant deployed to Southwest Asia as a member of the 57th Medical Battalion on 7 September 1990 and remained in the theater of operations until 
20 February 1991.

5.  On 12 April 1991 the applicant was released from active duty with an honorable characterization of service.  Decorations associated with his service in Southwest Asia were not reflected on his separation document.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides that service in the Persian Gulf War is to be recognized by award of the Southwest Asia Service Medal to Army members who participated in Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm in the designated area on or after 2 August 1990.  A bronze service star is authorized for the Defense of Saudi Arabia (2 August 1990 to 16 January 1991), the Liberation and Defense of Kuwait (17 January to 11 April 1991).

7.  The Kuwait Liberation Medal awarded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KLM-SA) was approved on 3 January 1992 and is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who participated in the Persian Gulf War between 17 January 1991 and 28 February 1991.  

8.  Additionally, the Kuwait Liberation Medal awarded by the Government of Kuwait (KLM-K) was approved on 9 November 1995 and is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who participated in the Persian Gulf War between 2 August 1990 and 31 August 1993.

9.  Information obtained from the Awards Branch at the United States Army Human Resources Command-Alexandria indicated that the applicant’s unit (57th Medical Battalion) was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation during the time in which the applicant was deployed with that unit to Southwest Asia.  It was not, however, awarded a Presidential Unit Citation.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms that the applicant was awarded the Parachutist Badge. His records should be corrected accordingly.

2.  The evidence also confirms that the applicant deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm between September 1990 and February 1991 and, as such, is entitled to the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the Kuwait Liberation Medal awarded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal awarded by the Government of Kuwait.

3.  Although the applicant believes that he is entitled to a Presidential Unit Citation based on his service with the 57th Medical Battalion, the evidence confirms that the unit was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation during the period he was assigned and not a Presidential Unit Citation.  His records should be corrected to show that he is entitled to the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

4.  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:

a.  by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Parachutist Badge;

b.  by showing that he is entitled to the Southwest Asia Service Medal with 
two bronze service stars, the Kuwait Liberation Medal awarded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal awarded by the Government of Kuwait; and 

c.  by showing that he is entitled to a Meritorious Unit Commendation.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__RJW__  __LDS __  __MJNT _  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Raymond J. Wagner_____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003086760	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20031028	
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.