PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                 5 January 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999032789

	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. Hubert S. Shaw, Jr.		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Erin J. Olmes		Chairperson	
	Mr. John D. Miller		Member	
	Mr. James M. Alward		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 award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

3.  The applicant states that he is entitled to the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal based on his service in Germany and the fact his service was extended for one month as a result of the Berlin Crisis.  He also states that, during the period of the Berlin Conflict and his service in Germany, he was subject to numerous standby alerts and field duty.  The applicant states that he needs his records corrected in order to qualify for membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted for three years and entered active duty on 27 March 1959.  He completed training as a heavy weapons infantryman and a parachutist.  The applicant served in the United States and in Germany and was honorably discharged on 26 April 1962.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) does not show the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or the Good Conduct Medal as authorized awards.

6.  The applicant’s DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows that he served in Germany from 8 October 1960 to 31 August 1961, but there is no evidence that he served in Berlin, Germany.

7.  There is no indication in the applicant’s personnel records that he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal.  There also is no evidence the applicant was disqualified by his unit commander for award of the Good Conduct Medal.  Records show the applicant’s conduct and efficiency was rated as “excellent” throughout his service and there is no indication of indiscipline in his records.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for qualifying service after 1 July 1958 in U.S. military operations, U.S. operations in direct support of the United Nations, and U.S. operations of assistance for friendly foreign nations.  Qualifying service for this award includes the requirements to be a bona fide member in a unit and to be engaged in the operation or serve in the area of operations for 30 days, be engaged in direct support of the operation for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days provided support involves entering the area of operations, be engaged in combat, participate as a member of an aircraft flying in support of the operation, or be recommended or attached to a unit recommended for award of the medal if the above criteria have not been met.  The designated military operations and dates of eligibility for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal are specified in Army Regulation 600-8-22 which shows that it was awarded for service in Berlin from 14 August 1961 to 1 June 1963.

9.  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.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There is no evidence of record, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows that he served a period of qualifying service for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; therefore, he is not eligible for this award.

2.  The applicant served a three year period of qualifying service for the first award of the Good Conduct Medal.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 27 March 1959 through 26 March 1962. 

3.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by the individual concerned was awarded the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 27 March 1959 through 26 March 1962.  

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

BOARD VOTE:  

EJO_____  JDM_____  JMA___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Erin J. Olmes_________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999032789	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000105	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19620426	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON	ETS	
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	MR SCHNEIDER	
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.