PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            4 May 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999033049

	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. Joseph A. Adriance 		Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Luther L. Santiful		Chairperson	
	Mr. James P. Steuve		Member	
	Ms. Carol Jo Suiter		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 (Report of Separation From Active Duty) be corrected to include his second award of the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM); three awards of the Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC); and the award of the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC).  

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that the order awarding him the 1st OLC to the MSM was not published until after his retirement.  In addition, he claims that a DD Form 214 issued to him in 1962 verifies that at that time he had earned 
three separate awards of the MUC, and finally he indicates that his Department of the Army (DA) Form 20 (Qualification Record) contains an entry in item 41 which verifies that he had been awarded the DUC.  

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 
8 September 1948 and served on active duty continuously for 27 years, 
9 months, and 12 days, until his retirement, on 30 June 1976, in the rank of first sergeant/E-8.

5.  On 19 December 1962, in conjunction with his reenlistment, the applicant was issued a DD Form 214 which documented his active duty service between 
20 December 1956 and 19 December 1962.  Block 26 (decorations, medals, badges, commendations, citations, and campaign ribbons awarded or authorized) of this form showed that, during this period of service, he had earned the United Nations Service Medal (UNSM); the National Defense Service Medal (NDSM); the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation (ROKPUC); the 
2nd award of the Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM); and 3 MUCs.

6.  Item 41 (awards and decorations) of the applicant’s DA Form 20 (Qualification Record) contains entries that verify that the applicant earned the MUC on the following three separate occasions:  1953, via General Order (GO) 43, issued by DA; 8 February 1954, via GO 36, issued by United States Army Forces Far East (USAFFE); and 1955, via GO 42, issued by DA.  There is also an entry in this item that indicates that he was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC), via GO 45, issued by DA in 1950.

7.  On 30 June 1976, the applicant was issued a DD Form 214 in conjunction with his retirement.  This document indicates that the applicant had earned the following awards and decorations during his tenure on active duty:  the Army Commendation Medal; the Air Medal; the MSM; 2 Bronze Star Medals; 
seven AGCMs; the UNSM; two NDSMs; the KSM with six bronze service stars; the Army Occupation Medal; the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars; the Vietnam Campaign Medal with “60” device; the MUC; the ROKPUC; the Combat Infantryman Badge; the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm; and the Valorous Unit Award.

8.  On 22 July 1976, subsequent to the applicant’s retirement, Permanent Orders 5-1, was published by the United States Army Support Command, Hawaii.  This order announced that the applicant had been awarded the 1st Oak Leaf Cluster (2nd award) of the MSM for meritorious service between 26 August 1972 and 
30 June 1976.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s qualification record clearly shows that he had been awarded a total of three MUCs and that he had earned the DUC.  Therefore, the Board concluded, in the interest of justice, that it would be appropriate to add these awards to his records at this time.

2.  The Board also determined that the applicant did, in fact, receive a second award of the MSM, for meritorious service, between 26 August 1972 and 30 June 1976.  This is evidenced by Permanent Orders 5-1, dated 22 July 1976.  Although this order was issued subsequent to the applicant’s retirement, the Board concluded, in the interest of equity, that it would be appropriate to add the 2nd award of the MSM to his separation document at this time. 

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 earned 3 MUCs, the DUC, and the 
2nd award of the MSM.  In addition, that a correction to his DD Form 214 be issued which adds these awards to block 26 (decorations, medals, badges, commendations, citations, and campaign ribbons awarded or authorized).  

BOARD VOTE:  

___cs___  ___jps___  ___ls ___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Luther L. Santiful_____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999033049	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	2000/05/04	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	N/A	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	N/A	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	N/A	
DISCHARGE REASON	N/A	
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1. 46	107.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.