PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:            10 June 2003
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002079910

	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. Hubert S. Shaw, Jr. 		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Samuel A. Crumpler		Chairperson	
	Ms. Shirley L. Powell		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 correction of his records to show award of the Joint Service Commendation Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster.  

3.  The applicant states that at the time of his retirement he was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster.  In support of his application, the applicant submitted a copy of an award certificate for award of the Joint Service Commendation Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster to him on 25 September 1968 .  

4.  The applicant’s military records show that that the applicant entered active duty on 15 March 1948 and completed over 20 years of enlisted service.  The applicant's service personnel records show that he served in the Korean War and Vietnam War.  He was discharged from active duty effective 30 September by reason of retirement and transferred to the Retired Reserve.

5.  The applicant's records contain five discharge documents (DD Form 214).  The DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) with an effective date of 30 September 1968 covers the period in question.  This DD Form 214 does not show award of the Joint Service Commendation Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster.

6.  The applicant's DD Form 214 with an effective date of 30 September 1968 was amended by a DD From 215 (Correction to DD Form 214), dated 4 August 1989.  This DD Form 215 showed the applicant's entitlement to 17 additional decorations, awards, unit citations and badges among which was award of the Joint Service Commendation Medal.  This DD Form 215 did not show award of the Joint Service Commendation Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster.

7.  Commander in Chief Pacific letter, dated 28 December 1965, awarded the applicant the first award of the Joint Service Commendation Medal.  This letter stated that no General Orders would be published to announce this award and further that this letter would be the authority for making entries in personnel records.

8.  The award certificate presented by the applicant shows that he was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster for performance of duties from April 1966 to September 1968.  The certificate is signed by the Commander in Chief Pacific and is dated 25 September 1968.  The narrative on this certificate describes the duties consistent with the applicant's assignment to the Pacific Command Operations and Plans Directorate. 

9.  The Joint Service Commendation Medal was authorized by the Secretary of Defense on 25 June 1963.  It is awarded in the name of the Secretary of Defense to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while assigned to a joint activity after 1 January 1963, distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement or service.  In accordance with Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum, "Combat Distinguishing Device for the Joint Service Commendation Medal," dated 29 November 1965, the "V" Device was authorized by wear for all services for acts or service involving direct participation in combat operations on or after 25 June 1963.

10.  As a matter of information, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Korean War, the Government of the Republic of Korea issued the Korean War Service Medal to pay tribute to eligible Korean War veterans for their historic endeavors to preserve the freedom of the Republic of Korea and the free world.  On 20 August 1999, the Department of Defense approved acceptance and wear of this foreign service award to eligible US veterans of the Korean War, or their surviving next of kin. The medal is provided at no cost to veterans.

11.  The Department of Defense assigned responsibility to the Department of the Air Force for distribution of the Korean War Service Medal to eligible veterans or their surviving next of kin.  To apply, veterans must submit a copy of their discharge paper (DD Form 214) to the Awards and Decorations Section, Headquarters, Air Force Personnel Center, 550 C Street West, Suite 12, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas 78150-4714.  A sample request form is being provided to the applicant.  Once the Korean War Service Medal has been authorized by the Department of the Air Force, the applicant may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records to add this foreign award to his DD Form 214.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board considered the applicant's request to correct his records to show a second award Joint Service Commendation Medal.  

2.  The Board noted that Pacific Command did not publish orders for the applicant's first award of the Joint Service Commendation Medal.  Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that no General Orders were published in support of the applicant's award of the Joint Service Commendation Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster.

3.  The certificate presented by the applicant for the Joint Service Commendation Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster appears authentic and is properly dated and signed.  The duties described in the award citation are also consistent with the applicant's job description at Pacific Command Operations Directorate.  

4.  Therefore, the Board determined that the evidence in this case is sufficient as a basis for correcting the applicant's records to show award of the Joint Service Commendation Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster.  

5.  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 received award of the Joint Service Commendation Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster.

BOARD VOTE:  

__SLP___  __SAC__  __JTM__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_Mr. Samuel A. Crumpler___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002079910	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20030610	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT 	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	MR SCHNEIDER	
ISSUES         1.	107.0000.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.