PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:           20 September 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001060277

	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. Robert J. McGowan		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond J. Wagner		Chairperson	
	Mr. Kenneth W. Lapin		Member	
	Ms. Paula Mokulis		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 her DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected to include credit for completing the Medical Technicians Course, and award of the Good Conduct Medal, Armed Forces Medal (sic), Army Service Ribbon, and American Defense [Service] Medal.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that she is entitled to these corrections.  In support, she provides her graduation picture from the Medical Technicians Course, Class #4, 30 September 1955 and a copy of her DD Form 214.

4.  The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Information herein was obtained from alternate sources and shows that she enlisted in the Women's Army Corps for 3 years on 10 June 1955.  She was discharged as a temporary private first class on 7 November 1956 after 1 year, 4 months and 28 days of creditable service.  She was discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 615-361 (medical).

5.  The applicant's DD Form 214 indicates that she was awarded MOS (military occupational specialty) 912.10, Medical Specialist.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual military awards.  During the period of the applicant's service, the Good Conduct Medal (GCMDL) was awarded to individuals who distinguished themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty, enlisted service.  This period was 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ended with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Although there was no automatic entitlement to the Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must have been justified.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, for award of the American Defense Medal for service within the American Theater between 8 September 1939 and 7 December 1941 under orders to active duty for a period of 12 months or longer.

8.  The Army Service Ribbon was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 states, in pertinent part, that effective 1 August 1981, all members of the Active Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve in an active Reserve status are eligible for the award upon successful completion of initial entry training.  The award may be awarded retroactively to those personnel who completed the required training before 1 August 1981 provided they had an Active Army status on or after 1 August 1981.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant served on active duty in the Women's Army Corps from 10 June 1955 to 7 November 1956.  Her MOS was 921.10, Medical Specialist.  She presented a unit picture showing her as a member of Class #4, Medical Technicians Course, Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), on 30 September 1955.

2.  Based upon the applicant being awarded the Medical Specialist MOS, the Board accepts that she completed the Medical Technicians Course at BAMC on or about 30 September 1955.  This course should be entered on her DD Form 214.

3.  During the period the applicant served on active duty, she would have qualified for award of the Good Conduct Medal upon her separation on 6 November 1956.

4.  Because of her dates of active service, the applicant would not have qualified for award of the American Defense Service Medal or the Army Service Ribbon.  There is no such award as the "Armed Forces Medal" requested by the applicant.

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

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by issuing to the individual concerned a DD Form 215, Correction to DD Form 214 showing that she completed the Medical Technicians Course at BAMC on 30 September 1955, and that she was awarded Good Conduct Medal.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

_RJW___  __KWL__  ___PM__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001060277	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20010920	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	DASA	
ISSUES         1.	100.0700	
2.	107.0056	
3.	107.0069	
4.		
5.		
6.