IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 28 June 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150011609 BOARD VOTE: _________ _______ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ___x____ ___x____ ____x____ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 28 June 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150011609 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined 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. IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 28 June 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150011609 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 correction of his military records to show he was hospitalized from 5 December 1954 to 21 April 1955 while on active duty at Ireland Army Community Hospital, Fort Knox, KY, with a diagnosis of rheumatic fever. 2. The applicant states his military records were destroyed in the St. Louis fire. It is hard for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make judgements on his disability without a record of his hospitalization. 3. The applicant provides copies of his available military records. 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 available records show he enlisted in the National Guard of the United States on 5 October 1953. 3. His DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) shows he entered active duty on 29 November 1954 and served until 28 November 1956 when he was honorably released from active duty. He had completed 2 years of total active service during the period covered by the DD Form 214. 4. In support of his request he provides: a. An Office of The Surgeon General hospital admission data record (SGO file) showing he was admitted to the hospital at Fort Knox, KY, in December 1954. The diagnosis was rheumatic fever, active, without heart involvement. b. Headquarters, the Armor Center, Fort Knox, KY, Special Orders Number 95, dated 21 April 1955, showing he was released from the Medical Holding Detachment and reassigned to Company A, 7th Training Battalion, 3rd Training Regiment for completion of basic training effective 23 April 1955. REFERENCES: A health record research project, commonly referred to as the SGO Files, involved transposing the hospital admission card data from the periods of World War II and the Korean conflict onto magnetic tape. In 1988 the National Research Council made these tape files available to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). The availability of the information to the NPRC received considerable publicity by the various veterans service organizations. It was widely believed that these tapes would become a valuable substitute for the records lost in the NPRC fire of 1973. DISCUSSION: 1. The available evidence indicates that the applicant was hospitalized at Fort Knox from 5 December 1954 until he was reassigned to a training unit effective 23 April 1955. The SGO file contains the only available medical information. It appears that this record, together with the orders reassigning him to a training unit from a Medical Holding Detachment, support his claim to have been hospitalized for several months due to rheumatic fever. 2. While the available documents do not form a basis for a record correction, the applicant is advised that this Record of Proceedings will be placed in his reconstructed military record and that he may find these proceedings useful in supporting his VA claim. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150011609 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150011609 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2