PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           15 February 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999029373

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mrs. Nancy Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Ms. Karol A. Kennedy		Member	
	Mr. Roger Able		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests, in effect, that his DD Form 214 be corrected to show he entered active duty on 13 March 1968 and that he received three Vietnam Campaign Medals and three Overseas Service Medals.

3.  The applicant states the he served on active duty from 13 March 1968 to       11 February 1985 with a one-year break in service from 1971 to 1972.  He served 4 years in Alaska, 3 years in Germany and 1 year in Vietnam.  He provides his last DD Form 214 as supporting evidence.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army on 13 March 1968 and was released from active duty on 26 February 1970 upon completing his term of service.  He had served 12 months and was credited with 3 campaigns in Vietnam during this period.  He received a DD Form 214 for this period.

5.  The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 12 February 1971 and was discharged on 14 November 1972 for the purpose of immediately reenlisting on 15 November 1972.  He served 44 months in Alaska during this period.  He received a DD Form 214 for this period.  He was discharged on 5 January 1978 for the purpose of immediately reenlisting on 6 January 1978.  He received a DD From 214 for this period.

6.  On 11 February 1985, the applicant was discharged upon completing his term of service.  He had served 36 months in Germany during this period.  His DD Form 214, item 12 shows he entered active duty this period on 6 January 1978 and had completed 7 years, 1 month and 6 days of active service this period and 3 years and 4 days foreign service this period.  His total prior active service is correctly reflected as 8 years, 10 months and 8 days.  Item 13 correctly shows he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal with 3 bronze (service) stars.  It incorrectly shows he was awarded the Overseas Service Medal.

7.  Army Regulation 635-5 prescribes the separation documents prepared for soldiers upon retirement, discharge or release from active military service from the Army.  It establishes standardized policy for the preparation and distribution of the DD Form 214.  The DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty.  Prior to 1 October 1979, a DD Form 214 was prepared for enlisted members who were discharged for the purpose of immediate reenlistment.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides policy and criteria concerning individual military decorations, service medals and service ribbons.  It states the Overseas Service Ribbon (OSR) was established on 10 April 1981.  It will not be awarded 

for overseas service recognized with another U. S. service medal, for example, the Vietnam Service Medal.  Numerals will be used to denote second and subsequent awards of the OSR.  The Vietnam Service Medal is awarded to all members serving in Vietnam after 3 July 1965 and through 28 March 1973.  One bronze service star is authorized for each campaign.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There is no error in item 12 of the applicant’s DD Form 214.  He received three previous DD Forms 214 which correctly credit him with the appropriate amount of active service and foreign service during the applicable active duty periods.  His DD Form 214 for the period ending 11 February 1985, item 12a correctly shows that he entered active duty on 6 January 1978 because that is the last period of active duty he entered for which he did not receive a DD Form 214.  Items 12c and 12f correctly reflect the net active service and foreign service he performed during that period of active duty.  Item 12d correctly reflects the total of his prior active service as shown on his prior DD Forms 214.

2.  The applicant served in Vietnam during 3 campaigns and his DD Form 214 for the period ending 11 February 1985, item 13 correctly shows he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal with 3 bronze stars.  Campaigns are denoted by bronze service stars affixed to the Vietnam Service Medal, not the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

3.  The applicant served 3 complete overseas tours during his career.  However, his tour in Vietnam is recognized by award of the Vietnam Service Medal and the OSR is not awarded for overseas service recognized with another U. S. service medal.  However, the entry “Overseas Service Medal” is incorrect and should be corrected to read “Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 2” to denote his other two overseas tours.

4.  In view of the foregoing, it would be in the interest of justice to correct the applicant’s records as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by amending the applicant’s DD Form 214 for the period ending         11 February 1985 to delete “Overseas Service Medal” and to add “Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 2.”

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

__fe____  __kak___  __ra____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			Fred Eichorn
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999029373	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000215	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	100.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.