IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 19 July 2011 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20110000840 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 the Social Security Account Number (SSAN) on his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) with an effective date of 7 April 1960. 2. The applicant states Item 32 (Remarks) shows his SSAN as XXX-XX-XXX7; however, it should be XXX-XX-XXX9. 3. The applicant provides: * his DD Form 214 * a letter from the Brunswick County (NC) Veterans Service Office, dated 7 January 2011 * photocopies of his military identification (ID) and SSAN card * a copy of his birth certificate 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 served in the Regular Army for 3 years from 8 April 1957 through 7 April 1960, when he was honorably released from active duty as a specialist five (SP5)/E-5. 3. The applicant provided photocopies of his SSAN card which shows his SSAN as XXX-XX-XXX9. 4. The applicant's service record contains two signed DD Forms 93 (Record of Emergency Data). Both forms, dated 20 March 1957 and 3 June 1959, show his SSAN as XXX-XX-XXX9. 5. The applicant's DD Form 214 does not have a dedicated block for recording his SSAN; however, there is an entry in Item 32 showing his SSAN as XXX-XX-XXX7. 6. The applicant did not enter the Army using his SSAN. During his period of service, the Army used service numbers with the alphabetical prefix "RA" for Regular Army Soldiers and "US" for inductees. 7. Service numbers were used by the U.S. Army from 1918 until they were officially phased out and replaced by the SSAN on 12 July 1969. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant requests correction of his SSAN in Item 32 of his DD Form 214. 2. The applicant's SSAN is XXX-XX-XXX9; however, Item 32 of his DD Form 214 shows his SSAN as XXX-XX-XXX7. 3. The applicant served during a period when the Army used service numbers, not the SSAN. His record contains two DD Forms 93, signed by him, showing his SSAN as XXX-XX-XXX9. 4. The SSAN appearing on the applicant's DD Form 214 is a typographical error and requires correction. BOARD VOTE: ____X____ ___X_____ ___X_____ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by deleting from Item 32 of his DD Form 214 the entry "SSAN: XXX-XX-XXX7" and replacing it with the entry "SSAN: XXX-XX-XXX9." ___________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) AR20110000840 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20110000840 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1