ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 25 March 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170014909 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show a letter of commendation and a campaign medal. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) DD Form 214 DA Form 24 (Service Record) Letter of Commendation “Order of Frontiersmen” Certificate 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 this case and determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. 2. The applicant states he received a letter of commendation on 2 June 1964 as shown on his DA Form 24; but it is not listed on his DD Form 214. There is also no mention of his West Germany border campaign (23 August 1962 and 24 January 1964). He wants this corrected so he may join the Veterans of Foreign Wars. 3. Review of the applicant’s service record shows: a. He enlisted in the Regular Army on 16 October 1961. b. He served in Germany from 12 March 1962 to 29 July 1964, a period of 2 years, 4 months, and 27 days. c. He was honorably released from active duty on 15 October 1964. His DD Form 214 shows he completed 3 years of active service of which 2 years, 7 months, and 24 days was foreign service in Germany. It does not list any awards or decorations. 4. He provides: a. Letter of commendation (in the form of an endorsement) from the Commander, Headquarters, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Germany, recognizing his performance. He also provides DA Form 24 that listed this letter of commendation. b. Locally-designed certificates, titled “Order of Frontiersmen” recognizing his contributions in West Germany. 5. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) requires the entry of all Federally recognized awards on the DD Form 214. There is no provision to enter certificates of achievement, commendation, or appreciation. 6. There is no evidence the applicant received the first award of the Army Good Conduct Medal. There also is no evidence the applicant was disqualified by his chain of command from receiving the Army Good Conduct Medal. Records do not show indiscipline or lost time. His records contains an Article 15 for a minor offense bit no other adverse information and he received conduct and efficiency ratings of “excellent” throughout his service. He was eligible for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal (1sd on completion of qualifying service from 16 October 1961 through 15 October 1964. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting evidence, the Board found that some relief was warranted. Based upon reviewing the military record, the applicant was eligible for the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award). The Board recommends awarding the Army Good Conduct Medal. Based upon regulatory guidance, Letters of Commendations do not get reflected on DD Form 214s; therefore, no relief in that area is warranted. Additionally, prior to closing the case, the Board noted the administrative corrections noted below by the analyst of record. The Board recommends those changes be made as well. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF X X X GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: * awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal for service during the period 16 October 1961 through 15 October 1964 * adding to his DD Form 214 the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) 2. Additionally, prior to closing the case, the Board noted the administrative notes reflected below and recommended those changed be made to more accurately depict the military service of the applicant. 3. The Board further determined the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief. As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to adding to his DD Form 214 a certificate of commendation or a West Germany campaign. 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. ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE(S): A review of the applicant's records shows he is authorized to additional awards not listed on his DD Form 214. As a result, amend the DD Form 214 with an effective date of 15 October 1964 by adding the: * National Defense Service Medal based on active duty service between 1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974 * Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-1) by Special Orders (SO) Number 268, issued by Headquarters, 2nd Training Regiment on 28 November 1961 * Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-14) by SO Number 92, issued by Headquarters, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron on 31 May 1962 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. 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 three-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) provides for the issuance of certificates of achievement. It states that commanders may recognize periods of faithful service, acts, or achievements which do not meet the standards required for decorations by issuing a DA Form 2442 (Certificate of Achievement) or a certificate of achievement or commendation of local design. Certificates of achievement or commendation will be issued under such regulations as the local commander may prescribe. If a locally-designed certificate of achievement or commendation is printed for use according to this regulation, it may bear reproductions of insignia. The citation on such certificates will not be worded so that the act of service performed appears to warrant the award of a decoration. No distinguishing device is authorized for wear to indicate the receipt of a certificate of achievement or commendation. Copies of certificates of achievement or commendation or memoranda of record stating that a certificate of achievement or commendation has been awarded and citing the service recognized will be distributed to the official military personnel file. 3. Army Regulation 600-8-22 also states the National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service for any period between 27 July 1950 and 27 July 1954, 1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974, 2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995, and 11 September 2001 and a date to be determined. 4. 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 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20170014909 2 1