IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  6 March 2012

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20110017387 


THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE:

1.  Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any).

2.  Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any).


THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant requests the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) be added to his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge). 

2.  The applicant states:

* He is entitled to the ARCOM for the period September 1968 to September 1969
* This medal is not shown on his DD Form 214 and he did not receive the medal

3.  The applicant provides a citation for award of the ARCOM. 

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice.  This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant’s failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so.  While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file.  In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing.

2.  The applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 13 February 1968.  He served as a light weapons infantryman in Vietnam from 4 September 1968 to 16 September 1969.  On 16 September 1969, he was released from active duty and transferred to the U. S. Army Reserve Control Group (Annual Training) to complete his remaining service obligation.

3.  His DD Form 214 does not show the ARCOM as an authorized award.

4.  There are no orders for the ARCOM in the available records.

5.  Item 41 (Awards and Decorations) of his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) does not show entitlement to the ARCOM.

6.  A review of the Awards and Decorations Computer-Assisted Retrieval System (ADCARS), an index of general orders issued during the Vietnam era between 1965 and 1973 maintained by the Military Awards Branch of the United States Army Human Resources Command, failed to reveal any orders for award of the ARCOM.

7.  He provided a citation for award of the ARCOM for meritorious service during the period September 1968 to September 1969 in Vietnam. 

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the ARCOM may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, distinguishes himself or herself by heroism, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service.  As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

There are no orders for the ARCOM in the available records, or ADCARS, and the applicant did not provide any orders for the ARCOM.  In the absence of orders officially awarding him the ARCOM or any other official corroborating evidence, the citation provided by the applicant is not sufficient in itself as a basis for adding the ARCOM to his DD Form 214.   




BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

____X____  ___X_____  ___X_____  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice.  Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.




      _______ _   __X_____   ___
               CHAIRPERSON
      
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20110017387



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20110017387



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