IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 4 October 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150013031 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: 4 October 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150013031 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: 4 October 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150013031 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, in effect, his military records be corrected to show he is authorized two bronze service stars on his Parachutist Badge denoting two combat jumps. 2. The applicant states he made two combat jumps in Korea. His combat jumps were in: * Munsa-an-ni on 20 March 1951 * Sunchon on 30 October 1951 3. The applicant provides: * DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States), with an effective date of separation of 7 March 1952 * DD Form 214 with an effective date of separation of 1 April 1955 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's military records are 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 his records were lost or destroyed in that fire. The only records available to this Board are the applicant's DD Forms 214 he provided and National Archives and Records Administration (NA) Form 13038. These records are sufficient for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. 3. An NA Form 13038, dated 11 January 2006, shows the applicant was a member of the Regular Army from 16 March 1946 - 18 January 1949 and he received an honorable discharge. 4. He immediately reenlisted on 19 January 1949. On 7 March 1952, he was discharged by reason of the expiration of his term of service. His most significant assignment as shown on his DD Form 214 was Headquarters and Service Company, Detachment 1, 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion. His DD Form 214 for this period shows he was awarded or is authorized the: * Parachutist Badge * Glider Badge * Korean Service Ribbon with arrowhead device and 4 bronze service stars 5. He immediately reenlisted on 8 March 1952. On 1 April 1955, he was discharged with a general discharge, under honorable conditions. His DD Form 214 for this period shows he was awarded or is authorized the: * Korean Service Medal with 2 bronze service stars * Combat Infantryman Badge * United Nations Service Medal * an additional service medal is indicated but the type is unreadable REFERENCES: 1. Department of the Army Pamphlet (DA PAM) 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists campaign participation credit, assault landing credit, and unit citation emblems awarded during the Korean War. This pamphlet does not show the 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion received any campaign credit for Korea. 2. Army Regulation 672-5-1 (Military Awards), effective 12 April 1984, prescribed the Department of the Army policy, criteria, and administrative instruction concerning individual military awards. a. A bronze service star was affixed to the Parachutist badge to denote participation in a combat parachute jump, retroactive to 7 December 1941. b. The arrowhead device denoted participation in a combat parachute jump, combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing, while assigned or attached as a member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission. The arrowhead device was to be worn on the service and suspension ribbons of campaign and service medals that included the Korean Service Medal. DISCUSSION: 1. The applicant's DD Forms 214 do not provide a history of the applicant's assignments. The evidence available does not show which unit the applicant was assigned to while he was in Korea. 2. His DD Form 214 with a separation date of 7 March 1952 shows he was authorized the Korean Service Medal with arrowhead device and 4 bronze service stars. However, DA PAM 372-1 does not show that his last significant assignment shown on his DD Form 214 received any campaign credit for Korea. 3. There is insufficient evidence to show whether the arrowhead device on his Korean Service Medal denotes a combat parachute jump, combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing. 4. There is no evidence in the applicant's available records and he did not provide any substantive evidence to show he made two combat jumps while he was in Korea. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150013031 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150013031 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2