IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 26 September 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170000897 BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : 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: 26 September 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170000897 APPLICANT'S REQUEST AND STATEMENT: 1. The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to add the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for his unit's participation in the October 1983 invasion into Grenada. 2. The applicant states that in 1982, the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, along with the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, were sent to Hunter Army Airfield to be deployed to Grenada. THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records with supporting documents: * DD Form 214, ending 27 August 1985 * three character/witness statements 2. Evidence from the applicant’s service record and Department of the Army and Department of Defense records and systems: * No service record was available for review * U. S. Army Human Resources Command, Unit Decorations and Campaign Participation Register (1962 to 1987) * Army Publishing Directorate webpage, Department of the Army General Orders REFERENCES: 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. 2. Army Regulation 600-8-22- (Military Awards) states the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is authorized for qualifying service after 1 July 1958 in military operations within specific geographic areas during specified time periods. An individual, who was not engaged in actual combat or equally hazardous activity, must have been a bona fide member of a unit participating in, or be engaged in the direct support of, the operation for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days provided this support involved entering the area of operations. Qualifying service for this award includes participation in Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada during the period 23 October 1983 through 21 November 1983. Qualifying service for non-unit direct support personnel in Grenada is 6 consecutive days or 12 non-consecutive days. 3. Department of the Army General Orders Number 31, dated 25 September 1984, cited the 1st and 2nd Battalions (Ranger), 75th Infantry, for award of the Valorous Unit Award for extraordinary heroism while engaged in military operations on the island of Grenada during the period 25 October 1983 to 28 October 1983. DISCUSSION: 1. While 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 28 May 1982. He held the military occupational specialties (MOS) of 11B (Infantryman) and 71L (Administrative Specialist). 3. His record is void of foreign service in Grenada. His Defense Finance Accounting Service records are not available for review. 4. He was honorably released from active duty on 27 August 1985. At the time of his separation, he was assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 75th Infantry Regiment, Fort Lewis, Washington. There is no overseas service listed on his DD Form 214. This form shows he was awarded or authorized the – * Army Service Ribbon * Parachutist Badge * Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster * Sharpshooter Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-16) * Valorous Unit Award * Army Commendation Medal 5. The applicant provides three character references/witness statements from members of his chain of command. These individuals' state, in part: a. If not for the applicant's deep personal commitment, sweat, and tireless effort their recent mission to invade Grenada would have fallen apart; b. During the unit's deployment to Panama in 1984, while located forward to a classified location for several weeks, with very limited assets the applicant completed face to face coordination with forward units to complete the mission; and c. The applicant worked in the Property Book Office section of the 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry from October 1982 to August 1985 and provided excellent support to the communication section. Deployment support was his area of expertise, where he quickly established rapport with the host logisticians and provided a continuous flow of needed supplies. 6. The applicant provided logistical support to his unit, during deployments to Panama and Grenada and his unit was cited for award of the Valorous Unit Award for extraordinary heroism while engaged in military operations on the island of Grenada during the period 25 October 1983 to 28 October 1983. 7. Award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal requires that an individual be a bona fide member of a unit participating in, or engaged in the direct support of the Grenada operation. The qualifying criteria for direct unit support is 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days provided this support involved entering the area of operations. There is no evidence, of the duration of the applicant' support or that he entered the area of operations. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160005706 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20170000897 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2