IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 11 February 2014 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20130010034 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 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show his date of birth as 21 May. 2. He states his date of birth is shown as 28 January which is incorrect. 3. He provides his DD Form 214, Puerto Rico Chauffer License, and voter registration card. 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 ABCMR for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members' records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. It is believed that the applicant's records were lost or destroyed in that fire. This case is being considered using the documents provided by the applicant. 3. The applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States and entered active duty on 4 August 1952. He was honorably released from active duty and credited with completing 2 years, 11 months, and 6 days of active duty service on 8 July 1954. 4. Item 10 (Date of Birth) of his DD Form 214 shows his date of birth as 28 January. 5. Special Orders Number 133, dated 8 July 1954, also list his date of birth as 28 January. There are no other documents available that were created during the time that he served and contain a date of birth. 6. He provides his chauffer license and his voter registration card that show his date of birth as 21 May. 7. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. It states the purpose of the separation document is to provide the individual with documentary evidence of his or her military service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. It is important that information entered on the form be complete and accurate and reflective of the conditions as they existed at the time of separation. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. While it is understood that the applicant desires to have his DD Form 214 corrected to show the date of birth that he now claims is correct, the special orders contained in his military personnel file indicates that he used 28 January as his date of birth throughout his military service and he was honorably retired using the same date of birth. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to change his DD Form 214 at this late date. 2. For historical purposes, the Army has an interest in maintaining the integrity of its records. The data and information contained in those records should reflect the conditions and circumstances that existed at the time the records were created. In the absence of a showing of material error or injustice, there is a reluctance to recommend that those records be changed. While it is understandable that the applicant desires to now record the date of birth that is listed on his voter registration card and chauffer license on his DD Form 214, there is not a sufficiently compelling reason for compromising the integrity of the Army's records at this late date. 3. The applicant is advised that a copy of this decisional document which confirms the date of birth he requested will be filed in his Army Military Human Resource Record (AMHRR). This should serve to clarify any questions or confusion in regard to the difference in the date of birth recorded in his military record and to satisfy his desire to have the date of birth that he requested be documented in his AMHRR 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) AR20130010034 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130010034 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1