ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:  31 October 2019

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20170008618


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  his Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) on the casualty record to reflect he was an Automatic Weapons Crewman.

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

* DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Records)
* DD Forms 214(Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge)

FACTS:

1.  The applicant did not file within the three year time frame provided in Title 10, United States Code (USC), section 1552 (b); however, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records conducted a substantive review of their case and determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file.

2.  The applicant states on the Casualty Record he is listed as a Field Wireman however, he was an Automatic Weapon Crewman on a quad50 M-16 half track.  In the chaos of treating casualties, the medics listed anything to have them evacuated.

3.  A review of the applicant’s service record shows:

	a.  He enlisted in the Regular Army on 4 March 1949.

	b.  He was awarded the Purple Heart on 10 January 1951.

c.  On 12 January 1951, a Battle Casualty Report case was received, which states 
the applicant was slightly wounded in action.  The report does not list the applicant’s principal duty or his special series number.

d.  On 15 March 1951, his Purple Heart was revoked.

e.  On 31 October 1968, the applicant was retired from the Regular Army having 
served 20 years, 1 month and 1 day of net service.
f.  On 8 November 2004, DD Form 215 reflected a correction to his DD Form 214, 
which awarded him the Purple Heart, in addition to other awards, medals and citations.

6.  By regulation, Army Regulation 635-5 (Personnel Separations - Separation Documents), the DD Form 214 is a summary of the Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty.  It provides a brief, clear-cut record of all current active, prior active, and prior inactive duty service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge.  The information entered thereon reflects the conditions as they existed at the time of separation.

BOARD DISCUSSION:

After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found relief was warranted.  Although the casulty report does not show the requested specialty and although he has been awarded multiple MOSs, based upon the request of the applicant and the record (DA Form 20) showing he maintained the requested MOS, Board members nothing inappropriate about granting the requested relief of the applicant.
 
BOARD VOTE:

Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

X	X	X	GRANT FULL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT FORMAL HEARING

:	:	:	DENY APPLICATION


BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The Board determined the evidence presented is 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 creating an addendum or memorandum attached to the casualty record to reflect he was an Automatic Weapons Crewman.

	 
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in their case.

REFERENCES:

1.  Title 10, USC, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within three years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice.  There 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 three-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so.

2.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Personnel Separations - Separation Documents), in effect at the time, prescribed the separation documents which are prepared for individuals upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Active Army.  It establishes standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty).

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	AR20170008618


3


1