BOARD DATE:	  27 February 2014

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20130010996


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 reconsideration of his earlier petition for award of the Korea Defense Service Medal (KDSM).

2.  The applicant states:

	a.  He served in Korea with Company G, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, entitling him to award of the KDSM.

   b.  His initial request for the KDSM was denied by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) because his record contained no evidence to confirm his Korean service.

   c.  He was told he would receive the KDSM if he could provide evidence of his Korean service.
   
   d.  He now provides medical evidence obtained from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) confirming this foreign service.

3.  The applicant provides:

* DD Form 735 (Health Record – Abstract of Service)
* Medical record document extract


CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the ABCMR in Docket Number AR20080017366 on 27 January 2009.

2.  The applicant provides a medical record document extract that was not previously considered by the Board.  As such, it is considered new evidence that warrants consideration by this Board.

3.  The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 10 June 1955.

4.  On 9 June 1958, he was honorably released from active duty, having completed 3 years of creditable active duty service, of which 1 year, 3 months, and 23 days was foreign service.  The DD Form 214 issued him at that time shows he was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal and the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar.

5.  The applicant provides a medical document extract which shows he was admitted to the 44th Surgical Hospital, APO 24, on 3 April 1956 for abdominal pains.  The applicant also provides a DD Form 735 which shows he was assigned to Company G, 19th Infantry, APO 24, from 1 January to 21 July 1957. (The original of this document is included in his military record.)

6.  A staff member of the Board conducted an internet search on the history of the 44th Surgical Hospital and 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division.

	a.  The 44th Surgical Hospital was created as a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Korea.  A photograph shows it was operational in January 1954.

   b.  The 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division was engaged in combat in Korea from 1950s and the division remained on frontline duty after the armistice until October 1957.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy and criteria concerning individual military awards.  The KDSM is authorized for award to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served on active duty in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea from 28 July 1954 to a date to be determined.




DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

The evidence of record confirms the applicant completed 1 year, 3 months, and 23 days of foreign service.  While there is no specific entry in his record to show this service was performed in Korea, he was treated at the 44th Surgical Hospital on 3 April 1956 and assigned with the 19th Infantry Regiment for over 6 months from 1 January – 21 July 1957.  Both of these units were located or assigned for duty in Korea during the applicant's assignments with them.  Therefore, based on the applicant's Korean service, his record should be corrected at this time to show he is authorized award of the KDSM.

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 amendment of the ABCMR’s decision in Docket Number AR20080017366, dated 27 January 2009.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by adding the Korea Defense Service Medal to his DD Form 214 and issuing him a corrected document to reflect this correction.




      _______ _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)                                         AR20130010996



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20130010996



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