PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            1 May 2003                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002079795

	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. Thomas B. Redfern		Chairperson	
	Ms. Linda D. Simmons		Member	
	Mr. John T. Meixell		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 records be corrected to properly reflect his foreign service in Japan and Korea.  

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that while serving in Japan, his unit was sent to Korea, where he served until the truce was signed.  He states that he would like some proof of his service in Japan and Korea.  

4.  The applicant’s military records were not available to the Board for review.  A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members’ records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973.  It is believed that the applicant’s records were lost in that fire.  The Board did have a reconstructed record available for review. 

5.  The available records do include the applicant’s separation document (DD Form 214), which was issued to the applicant on the date of his separation.  This document verifies that he entered active duty for the period in question on 
15 October 1951, and that he continuously served on active duty until being honorably separated on 13 September 1953.  Item 26 (Foreign Service) shows that he served overseas for 8 months and 24 days, and Item 28 (Most Significant Duty Assignment) confirms that he served in C Battery, 26th Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) Battalion, APO 24.  

6.  The evidence also includes a copy of special orders number 128, dated 
26 July 1953, issued by the 63rd Field Artillery Battalion, APO 24, which released the applicant from his assignment to C Battery, 26th AAA Battalion and transferred him to the 24th Replacement Company, Japan, effective 27 July 1953. In addition, there is a copy of special orders number 174, dated 31 July 1953, issued by Headquarters, 24 Infantry Division, APO 24, which authorized the applicant’s transfer from Japan to the United States on 10 August 1953.  

7.  In connection with the processing of this case, a member of the Board staff reviewed the unit historical files for the 26th AAA Battalion that are maintained a the National Archives.  This search failed to produce any specific reference to the applicant’s assignment tenure with the unit.  However, it did produce a battalion history summary that confirms that the applicant’s unit was activated on 6 June 1951, and within a few days was committed to a combat role in Korea.  It also verifies that the 26th AAA Battalion departed Korea for Japan with the 24th Infantry Division on 4 February 1952.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board notes the applicant’s request that his record be corrected to provide some proof of his overseas service in Japan and Korea.  The evidence shows he completed 8 months and 24 days of overseas service during his active duty service between 15 October 1951 and 13 September 1953.  
2.  The evidence also shows that the applicant departed Japan for the United States on 10 August 1953.  A calculation of the applicant’s overseas dates combined with a review of the unit history obtained from the National Archives allows the Board to credibly conclude that the applicant served in Korea from on or about 17 November 1952 through on or about 4 February 1953, and in Japan from on or about 5 February to on or about 10 August 1953.  

3.  In view of the facts of this case, the Board finds the applicant’s claim that he served overseas in both Japan and Korea credible, and it concludes that it would be appropriate to add an entry in Item 38 (Remarks) of his DD Form 214 that verifies this service.  

4.  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 adding the following entry to Item 38 (Remarks) of the 13 September 1953
DD Form 214 of the individual concerned:  “Overseas Service:  Korea – 
17 November 1952 - 4 February 1953; Japan, 5 February 1953 - 10 August 1953”; and by providing him a corrected separation document that reflects this change.  

BOARD VOTE:  

__jm____  ___lds___  __tbr ___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Thomas B. Redfern____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002079795	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	2003/05/01	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	1953/09/13	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365	
DISCHARGE REASON	Rtn to ARNG	
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  251	120.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.