PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:           3 May 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999032679

	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. Kenneth H. Aucock		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 that he be awarded the Good Conduct Medal and that he be issued the Minute Man pin.

3.  The applicant states that he received no disciplinary action and had no misconduct during his Army service and should have received the Good Conduct Medal and the Minute Man pin.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Army for three years on 10 August 1982, completed training, and was assigned to an artillery battery in Germany as a track vehicle mechanic.  He returned to the United States and was assigned to Fort Polk, Louisiana in July 1984.  He was released from active duty on 9 August 1985.  He had 3 years of service.  His service was characterized as Honorable.  The applicant attained the rank of E-4 during his service and had been recommended for promotion to pay grade E-5.  On           16 November 1983 he received a certificate of achievement from the 3d Armored Division commanding general.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows that he was awarded the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Army Achievement Medal (1st oak leaf cluster), among other awards.  His record contains no evidence of disciplinary action or misconduct on his part.   
 
5.  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.  This period is 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Although there is no automatic entitlement to the Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified.  

6.  Paragraph 6-15 of the aforementioned regulation provides for award of the Army Lapel Button, a gratuitous issue item made up of a minute man in gold color on a red enamel disk surrounded by 16-pointed gold rays with an outside diameter of 9/16-inch.  A soldier who has active service on or after 1 April 1984 and who has an honorable characterization of service is eligible for issue of the Army Lapel Button.  Eligible soldiers who were not awarded the Army Lapel Button should apply to the National Archives Records Administration in St. Louis.  
CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant served his country honorably and faithfully.  He is entitled to award of the Army Good Conduct Medal.

2.  He is also entitled to the award of the Army Lapel Button, and it should be issued to him.

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 applicant was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal for his service from 10 August 1982 through 9 August 1985.  That medal and the Army Lapel Button should be issued to him. 

BOARD VOTE:  

___ewl__  ___rvo__  ___jhk___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999032679	
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.  46	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.