IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	       18 December 2008

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20080009771 


THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE:

1.  Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any).

2.  Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any).


THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant requests, in effect, that he be authorized the Korean Service Medal and the Overseas Service Ribbon. 

2.  The applicant states, in effect, that he served in Korea from March 1954 to June 1956.

3.  The applicant provides copies of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge), a DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards) for the Good Conduct Medal, a form letter stating that the applicant's records were destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire in 1973 and a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214) adding the Good Conduct Medal to his list of authorized awards.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice.  This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant’s failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of 
justice to do so.  While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a 

substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file.  In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing.

2.  The applicant's military records are not available to the Board for review.  A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members’ records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973.  It is believed that the records were lost or destroyed in that fire.  However, there is sufficient information for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case.  

3.  The applicant enlisted and entered active duty on 16 November 1954.  He completed his required active duty service and was transferred to the United States Army Reserve with an honorable character of service on 15 November 1957.

4.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides for award of the Korean Service Medal.  In pertinent part, the regulation states that the Korean Service Medal is awarded for qualifying service in the theater of operations between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954.

5.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also shows that the Overseas Service Ribbon was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981.  The regulation states, in pertinent part, that effective 1 August 1981, all members of the Active Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve in an active Reserve status are eligible for the award for successful completion of overseas tours.  The award may be awarded retroactively to those personnel who were credited with a normal overseas tour completion before 1 August 1981 provided they had an Active Army status on or after 1 August 1981.  Numerals are used to denote the second and subsequent awards of the Overseas Service Ribbon.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant entered active duty after the date of eligibility ended for award the Korean Service Medal.  

2.  The applicant left active duty before the establishment of the Overseas Service Ribbon and he did not serve in an active duty status after the establishment date which was 1 August 1981.  

3.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

___X____  ___X____  ___X____  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice.  Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.



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      _______ _   _______   ___
               CHAIRPERSON
      
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20080009771



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20080009771



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