IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 23 February 2012 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20110017470 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 that he be awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal. 2. The applicant states he completed his service honorably but the award is missing on his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty). 3. The applicant provides a DD Form 214. 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 enlisted in the Regular Army on 25 July 1972 and upon completion of initial entry training he was awarded military occupational specialty 95B (Military Policeman). 3. His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) for his active duty service is not available for review. This form would have listed his conduct and efficiency ratings during his active duty tenure. 4. He was honorably released from active duty and transferred to the Army National Guard on 24 April 1974. His DD Form 214 shows he completed 1 year and 9 months of active duty service with no lost time. His DD Form 214 also shows he was awarded the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar and the National Defense Service Medal. 5. There are no orders or any other evidence showing he was awarded or recommended for the Army Good Conduct Medal. 6. Army Regulation 672-5-1 (Awards), in effect at the time, stated the Army Good Conduct Medal was awarded for each 3 years of continuous enlisted active Federal military service completed on or after 27 August 1940; for first award only, 1 year served entirely during the period 7 December 1941 to 2 March 1946; and, for the first award only, upon termination of service on or after 27 June 1950 of less than 3 years but more than 1 year. The enlisted person must have had all "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings. Ratings of "Unknown" for portions of the period under consideration were not disqualifying. Service school efficiency ratings based upon academic proficiency of at least "Good" rendered subsequent to 22 November 1955 were not disqualifying. There must have been no convictions by a court-martial. However, there was no right or entitlement to the medal until the immediate commander made a positive recommendation for its award and until the awarding authority announced the award in general orders. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant's request for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal has been carefully considered. 2. His DA Form 20 covering his active duty service is not available for review. Without this document, his conduct and efficiency ratings during his active duty tenure cannot be verified. As a result, his eligibility for the Army Good Conduct Medal cannot be established at this time. 3. Based on the foregoing, there is insufficient evidence on which to base granting the requested relief. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ____x___ ____x___ ____x___ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by _______ _ __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) AR20110017470 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20110017470 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1