ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:  28 August 2019

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20180006385


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from 
the Armed Forces of the United States), for the period ending 9 March 1951 to show his 
current rank/grade of Staff Sergeant/E6.

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 
DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record).

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 it was an entry error with his rank.  His DD Form 214 states 
Private First Class (PFC), but it should be Staff Sergeant (SSG).

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

	a.  The applicant’s military records are not available to the Board for review.  A fire 
destroyed approximately 18 million service members’ records at the National Personnel 
Records Center in 1973.  It is believed that the applicant’s records were lost or 
destroyed in that fire.  However, this case is being considered using his DD Form 214.

	b.  He entered the Regular Army on 9 March 1951.

     c.  His DD Form 214, Item 3 (Grade_Rate_Rank and Date of Appointment) shows 
“PFC (T) 25 Oct 1951”.

	d.  The applicant’s available records does not contain documentation showing his 
rank as “Staff Sergeant”.

     e.  He was honorably discharged on 8 March 1953.  

4.  Special Regulation (SR) 615-360-1 (Separation of Enlisted Personnel) states to 
enter the grade in which serving at time of separation, indicating whether permanent or 
temporary, and date of appointment.

BOARD DISCUSSION:

After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board determined 
relief was not warranted.   Based upon the available documents, the Board found there 
to be insufficient evidence to show that the applicant was promoted beyond the rank of 
PFC.  For that reason, the Board recommended denying the applicant’s requested 
relief.

BOARD VOTE:
Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

:	:	:	GRANT FULL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT FORMAL HEARING

:X	:X	:X	DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or 
injustice.  Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient 
as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.
	  
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.  Special Regulation (SR) 615-360-1 states a DD Form 214 is accepted as an official 
record of the enlisted person’s service by the Veterans Administration and other 
agencies to which copies are furnished, care will be exercised in the preparation of the 
form to insure that each page is completely legible to enter the grade in which serving at 
time of separation, indicating whether permanent or temporary, and date of 
appointment.


ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20180006385

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