PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           17 August 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999030859

	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.  

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mr. Kenneth H. Aucock		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Sherri V. Ward 		Chairperson	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Member	
	Ms. Linda D. Simmons 		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.  In effect, the applicant requests that his record be corrected to reflect his service in Kuwait and to show award of the Southwest Asia Service Medal.   

3.  The applicant states that he served as a medic attached to Task Force 3/69 on two separate occasions in Kuwait.  His DD Form 214 does not reflect this information; and therefore, does not entitle him to benefits. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered on active duty on            3 November 1992 and was released from active duty in pay grade E-3 on            5 August 1995 as a result of his approved request to attend school.  He had        2 years, 9 months, and 3 days of service.  His character of service was honorable.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not reflect foreign service, nor does it reflect award of the Southwest Asia Service Medal.

5.  The applicant was awarded a certificate of service in recognition of his performance of duty with the 24th Infantry Division during Operation Vigilant Warrior during the period October to December 1994.  

6.  In a 26 June 1999 letter a technician from the Army Reserve Personnel Command notified a VA agency in Olean, New York, that the applicant did receive the Southwest Asia Service Medal, and had active duty during the period claimed.  However, exact dates were not available due to incomplete records.   

7.  The applicant’s records contain no information concerning the exact dates of his involvement in Operation Vigilant Warrior.

8.  Information maintained by the Center for Military History indicated that Operation Vigilant Warrior was initiated in October 1994 in response to Saddam Hussein’s “saber rattling” and posturing of a significant Iraqi force along the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border.  The Army Central Command was called upon to command, control and generate Army forces to deploy to Kuwait in support of Operation Vigilant Warrior.  Two brigades of the 24th Infantry Division were involved in that operation.

9.  The Southwest Asia data base shows that the applicant served in Southwest Asia from 1 April 1993 to 31 May 1993.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (military awards) states that the Southwest Asia Service Medal was authorized for individuals assigned or attached to organization participating in ground or shore operations in Southwest Asia and contiguous waters, including the total land areas of Kuwait, between                    2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995.  A bronze service star was authorized for individuals deployed after 12 April 1991 representing participation in the Southwest Asia cease-fire Campaign.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Vigilant Warrior; however, the dates of his involvement in that operation are unknown.  He did, however, serve in Southwest Asia for two months in April and May 1993.  His DD Form 214 should reflect this service. 

2.  The applicant is entitled to award of the Southwest Asia Service Medal with one bronze service star.  His DD Form 214 should reflect this information.   

3.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal with one bronze service star, and that he served in Southwest Asia from 1 April 1993 to 31 May 1993. 

BOARD VOTE:  

___svw__  ___lds__  ___mhm_  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999030859	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000817	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  46	100.00	
2.	107.00	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.