ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:  18 October 2019

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20180001181


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  in effect, correction of item 30 (Remarks) of his DD Form 
214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) for the 
period ending 6 January 1972 to change his blood type to read "O – Negative" 
instead of "O – Positive."

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

*	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
*	DD Form 214, dated 6 January 1972
*	blood donor card, American Red Cross
*	health summary document, MyMedicar.gov

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 (ABCMR) 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, in effect, his record shows the wrong blood type.  He 
contends his blood type is listed incorrectly on his DD Form 214, item 30, and should 
show the entry "O – Negative" instead of "O – Positive."

3.  The applicant's DD Form 214 for the period 17 March 1970 through 
6 January 1972 and all the other official records and documents in his military record 
which require his blood type to be listed show his blood type as "O – Positive."  
These documents include but are not limited to the below records:

*	DA Form 428 (Application for Identification Card), dated 20 March 1970
*	Standard Form 601 (Health Record – Immunization Record), dated 23 March 
1970

4.  The applicant's record is void of evidence which shows his blood type listed as "O 
– Negative."
5.  The applicant provides an American Red Cross blood donor card and a 
MyMedicare.gov document which show his blood type as "O – Negative."

6.  The applicant's DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) is void of an entry for 
"O – Negative" which is the blood type he request.  The document of record does 
not provide an item number or block for a blood group entry.

7. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) stated, for item 30 enter blood 
group for enlisted personnel from the Immunization Record (Standard Form 601) or 
the Enlisted Qualification Record (DA Form 20).  

BOARD DISCUSSION:

1.  After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found the 
requested relief is warranted.

2.  The Board concluded that, although there are no military service records showing 
the applicant's blood type as "O – Positive," the documents he provided show the 
blood type recorded on his DD Form 214 is, in fact, an error.  


BOARD VOTE:

Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

:XX	:XX	:XXX	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 amending item 30 of 
his DD Form 214 by deleting "Blood Group: O Pos" and adding "Blood Group:  O 
Neg." 

	  
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.


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 635-5 (Separation Documents) establishes the policy for 
preparing and distributing the DD Form 214.  The regulation directs that the purpose 
of the separation document is to provide the individual with documentary evidence of 
his or her military service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or 
discharge.  The regulation states for item 30 enter blood group for enlisted personnel 
from the Immunization Record (Standard Form 601) or the Enlisted Qualification 
Record (DA Form 20).  Example: "Blood Group O."

NOTHING FOLLOWS

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20180001181
	
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