ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS BOARD DATE: 19 February 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170018724 APPLICANT, ON BEHALF OF A DECEASED FORMER SERVICE MEMBER (FSM), REQUESTS: the following awards be added to the FSM's DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) with an effective date of 15 March 1955: * Army Good Conduct Medal * Special Forces Tab * Korean Service Medal with three bronze service stars * Meritorious Unit Commendation * Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation * One Overseas Service Bar APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Birth Certificate * Death Certificate * DD Form 214 * NGB Form 22 (National Guard Bureau Report of Separation and Record of Service) * DD Form 4 (Enlistment Record - Armed Forces of the United States) * DD Form 398 (Statement of Personal History) * Airborne Course Certificate * Certificate of Training * Special Orders Number 26 * DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) * DA Form 24 (Service Record) * Self-Authored Statement * Orders * Photograph * Historical Diary for January 1952 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: * the FSM is entitled to the Army Good Conduct Medal; however, it is not listed on his DD Form 214 * the FSM served on active duty from 15 March 1951 to 15 March 1955 with no time lost indicated under section 6(a) on his DD Form 214 * there is no adverse information in the FSM's available records that would preclude him from the award * the FSM is entitled to a retroactive award of the Special Forces Tab pursuant to Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) * the FSM served in the 20th Special Forces Group from 1960 to 1965 * the FSM's DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he held the primary military occupational specialty (MOS) of 051.73 and 123.63 in which the "3" represents Special Forces special qualification identifier (SQI) and he completed the Special Forces Extension Course in 1963 * the FSM's NGB Form 22 indicates his MOS was 051.73 at the time of discharge * the Special Forces Tab was not created or issued at the time of FSM's separation 3. The applicant's request for correction of the FSM's DD Form 214 to show the Meritorious Unit Commendation and Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation are supported by sufficient evidence; therefore, they will be administratively corrected and not considered by the Board. The Board will consider: * Army Good Conduct Medal * Special Forces Tab * Korean Service Medal with three bronze service stars * one Overseas Service Bar 4. The FSM's complete military records are not available to the Board for review; however, the applicant has provided sufficient documents for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. 5. The FSM enlisted in the Regular Army on 15 March 1951 and was discharged on 15 March 1955 in the rank of private first class. His DD Form 214 shows: * he completed 4 years and 1 day of active military service with no days of lost time * no entries indicating he was awarded or authorized the Army Good Conduct Medal, Special Forces Tab, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation * he was awarded or authorized the Korean Service Medal * he received credit for 2 years, 9 months, and 16 days of foreign service * his most significant duty assignment was with the 5th Signal Company, 5th Infantry Division * entry for specialty number or symbol is listed as "NA" 6. There is no evidence the FSM received the first award of the Army Good Conduct Medal. There also is no evidence the FSM was disqualified by his chain of command from receiving the Army Good Conduct Medal. The available records do not show indiscipline or lost time or any adverse information. His record of conduct and efficiency ratings for his period of active duty service are not available. 7. There are no orders in the FSM's available records awarding him the Special Forces Tab. The available records do not show he served with a Special Forces unit during the Korean War era. His DD Form 214 with an effective date of 15 March 1955 does not show he was awarded specialty number or a special qualification identifier (SQI) "S" or "3," or additional skill identifier (ASI) "5G" during this period. Additionally, there is no evidence that shows he was awarded the Special Forces Tab for being assigned to a specific organization (8240th Army Unit, June 1950 to July 1953) for at least 120 consecutive days. 8. The FSM's DD Form 398 (Statement of Personal History) indicates he served in Korea from 1951 to 1952. 9. The FSM's available records do not show the specific dates he served in Korea. Orders provided by the applicant confirm the FSM was in Korea and assigned to the 73rd Engineer Combat Battalion. The orders show his effective date of change of strength accountability (i.e., the date he would belong to a new unit) was to be 18 December 1952, and his expected date of departure from the Far East Command was to be in November 1952. A normal tour of duty in Korea at the time would have been approximately 1 year. 10. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) shows the 73rd Engineer Combat Battalion received credit for participation in two campaigns from November 1951 through November 1952. The unit also received credit for participating in the Third Korean Winter campaign (1 December 1952 to 20 April 1953). Soldiers not present for duty with their unit during a campaign (e.g., Soldiers who had left the area of operations in transition to a new assignment) would not have received credit for that campaign. 11. After completing service in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, the FSM enlisted in the Alabama Army National Guard (ALARNG) on 15 March 1960. 12. The FSM's DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) covering his service in the ARNG shows: a. he held military occupational specialty (MOS) 051.63 (Chief Radio Operator) while assigned to the 118th Special Forces Operational Detachment from 15 March 1960 to 8 July 1961. b. he held MOS 123.73 (Demolition Sergeant) while assigned to Company A, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) from July to August 1961. c. he was reclassified to MOS 112.63 (Heavy Weapons Leader) while assigned to Company A, 20th Special Forces Group from 25 September 1961 to 16 August 1964 and held MOS 051.73 from 31 August 1964 to 18 February 1965 with the same unit. 13. Based on Military Awards regulation, any enlisted member may be retroactively awarded the Special Forces Tab from 1954 through 1975 if member was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat Medal Badge while serving for at least 120 days in: (1) Operational Detachment-A (A–Team), (2) Mobile Strike Force, (3) Special Forces Reconnaissance Team, or (4) Special Forces Special Project Unit. 14. Army Regulation 670-1 governs the requirements for the Overseas Service Bar and states that it is an item of uniform wear, not an award or decoration authorized to be entered on the DD Form 214. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all evidence, the Board determined sufficient evidence was provided by the applicant to support granting full relief. The Board found that credible evidence either provided by the applicant or within the service record of the former service member supported amending the DD214 to show the awarding of all requested awards. ? 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: In addition to the administrative notes annotated by the Analyst of Record (below the signature), the Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending his DD Form 214 by awarding: * AGCM * Special Forces Tab * Korean Service Medal w 3 Bronze Stars * One Overseas Bar * Meritorious Unit Commendation (Admin correct by AOR) * Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation (Admin correct by AOR) 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 FSM's available records show he is authorized additional awards not listed on his DD Form 214. As a result, amend the DD Form 214 with an effective date of 15 March 1955 by adding the: * Meritorious Unit Commendation * Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation ? 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 600-65 (Service Medals), 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. A Soldier's conduct and efficiency ratings, including those pertinent to attendance at service schools, must have all been recorded as “excellent” or higher, except that ratings of “Unknown” for portions of the period under consideration, and service school efficiency (emphasis in the original) ratings of less than “excellent” entered prior to 3 March 1946, would not be disqualifying. There must have been no convictions by court-martial. However, there was no right or entitlement to the medal until the immediate commander made a positive recommendation for its award and until the awarding authority announced the award in general orders. 3. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Special Forces Tab may be awarded retroactively to all personnel who performed the following wartime service: a. From 1942 through 1973. Served with a Special Forces unit during wartime and were either unable to or not required to attend a formal program of instruction but were awarded SQI "S," "3," or ASI [additional skill identifier] "5G" by competent authority. b. Prior to 1954. The Special Forces Tab may be awarded prior to 1955 for at least 120 consecutive days in various organizations, including the 8240th Army Unit from June 1950 to July 1953. c. From 1954 through 1975. Any company grade officer or enlisted member awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat Medical Badge while serving for at least 120 consecutive days in the one of the following organizations: (1) SF Operational Detachment-A (A–Team). (2) Mobile Strike Force. (3) SF Reconnaissance Team. (4) SF Special Project Unit. 4. Army Regulation 600-8-22 states a bronze service star, based on qualifying service for each campaign listed in Table B-1 of this regulation, will be worn on the appropriate service medal to include the Korean Service Medal. Bronze service stars were authorized for Soldiers who present for duty in the combat zone during one or more campaigns. 5. Army Regulation 670-1 (Uniforms and Insignia) governs the requirements for the Overseas Service Bar. It states a bar is authorized for wear for each period of active Federal service as a member of the U.S. Army outside of the continental limits of the United States for the specific time frames and areas of operation cited in Army Regulation 670-1 or appropriate Department of the Army message. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20170018724 2 1