PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:               3 May 2000               
	DOCKET NUMBER:      AR1999030934

	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.  

	Ms. Beverly A. Young 		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. John H. Kern		Member	
	Mr. Ernest W. Lutz, Jr.		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 correction of item 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show all the awards to which he is entitled.

3.  The applicant states that his DD Form 214 does not list all the awards, decorations, and/or medals that he should have been awarded.  In support of his application, he provides a copy of his DD Form 214 and three statements from former service members.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered active duty on 1 July 1958 for a period of 3 years.  He completed training as a light weapons infantryman and served in Okinawa from 24 June 1960 through 31 May 1961.  The applicant was honorably discharged from active duty in the pay grade E-4 on 1 June 1961.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows the Parachutist Badge and the Expert Marksmanship Badge with Rifle Bar and Automatic Rifle Bar as authorized awards in item 26.  

6.  A review of the applicant’s service personnel records determined that the applicant is entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

7.  There is no evidence the applicant received the first award of the Good Conduct Medal.  There also is no evidence the applicant was disqualified by his chain of command from receiving the Good Conduct Medal.  His records do not contain any adverse information and he received conduct and efficiency ratings of “excellent” throughout his service.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  The regulation states that, after 27 August 1940, three years of qualifying service was required for award of the Good Conduct Medal, but during the World War II era, the first award could be made based on one year of qualifying service provided that service occurred between 7 December 1941 to 2 March 1946.  After 27 June 1950 to the present time, the current standard for award of the Good Conduct Medal is 3 years of qualifying service, but as little as one year is required for the first award in those cases when the period of service ends with the termination of Federal military service.  Although there is no automatic entitlement to the Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified.  

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service for any period between 27 July 1950 through 27 July 1954, 1 January 1961 through 14 August 1974, and 2 August 1990 through 30 November 1995.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant is entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal based on completion of qualifying service from 1 July 1958 to 1 June 1961 ending with termination of a period of Federal military service.  

2.  Evidence of record shows the applicant completed a period of qualifying service for award of the National Defense Service Medal; therefore, he is entitled to correction of item 26 of his DD Form 214 to show this award.

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 the individual concerned was awarded the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 1 July 1958 to 1 June 1961 and the National Defense Service Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

RVO____  JHK_____  EWL____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999030934	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000503    	
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.	107.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.