IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 6 July 2010 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20100000420 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 correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) for the period ending 30 June 1991 to show the Kuwait Liberation Medal. 2. The applicant states he did not receive this award. 3. The applicant provides his DD Form 214. 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 entered active duty with his Army National Guard unit on 25 January 1991 in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. He served in pay grade E-4. He was released from active duty on 30 June 1991 after completing 5 months and 6 days of active duty service. 3. The DD Form 214 he was issued at the time shows the applicant was ordered to active duty in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. 4. Item 5 (Oversea Service) of the applicant's DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) shows he served in Germany during the period 5 February 1991 to 11 June 1991 in a temporary duty status. 5. The Defense Manpower Data Center compiled the Operation Desert Shield/Storm Data Base. The primary Operation Desert Shield/Storm file contains one record for each active duty member who participated in theater between 2 August 1990 and 31 July 1991 and one record for each Reservist, National Guard member, or retiree who was activated or federalized in response to Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. For Reservists and Guard members, the file includes those persons activated or federalized from 2 August 1990 through 31 December 1991. A phase II file lists active duty personnel who served in theater between 1 August 1991 and 31 December 1993. There are also separate files covering calendar years 1994 and 1995. The applicant's name is not contained in this data base. 6. The Kuwait Liberation Medal awarded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 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 in one or more of the following areas: Persian Gulf; Red Sea; Gulf of Oman; that portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees east longitude; the Gulf of Aden; or the total land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The eligibility period and geographic boundaries were specified by the Government of Saudi Arabia and may not be waived. 7. The Kuwait Liberation Medal awarded by the Government of Kuwait 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 in one or more of the following areas: the Arabian Gulf; the Red Sea; the Gulf of Oman; that portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees east longitude; the Gulf of Aden; or the total land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Omar, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The eligibility period and geographic boundaries were specified by the Government of Kuwait and may not be waived. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. While evidence indicates the applicant was ordered to active duty in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm, there is no evidence he served in Southwest Asia during an eligibility period and geographic area authorized for award of the Kuwait Liberation Medal. As such, it does not appear that he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award. 2. 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. ____________X_____________ 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) AR20100000420 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100000420