ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 15 April 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20180016257 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) by adding: * Army Good Conduct Medal * National Defense Service Medal * United Nations Service Medal APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * DD Form 214 * DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214) FACTS: 1. Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20050016032 on 27 July 2006. 2. The applicant states he believes the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the United Nations Medal have been given to other service members that served in the same unit as himself. He served 3 years, which he believes is qualifying for the Army Good Conduct Medal. The National Defense Service Medal and United Nations Medal were awarded for his service in the Korean conflict. None of the awards are reflected on his DD Form 214. 3. The applicant's complete military records are not available for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members' records at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), St. Louis, MO, in 1973. It is believed his records were lost or destroyed in that fire. This case is being considered using the documents he provides and documents available in a reconstructed record. 4. On 27 January 1955, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army. He was honorably released from active duty on 24 January 1958 in the rank/grade of specialist three/E-3 after completing 2 years, 11 months, and 28 days of service that included 1 year, 3 months, and 25 days of foreign service. 5. His DD Form 214 that shows he completed 1 year, 3 months, and 25 days of foreign and/or sea service. The DD Form 214, as corrected by a DD Form 215, shows he is authorized the Korea Defense Service Medal. 6. His conduct and efficiency ratings are not available for review. The available records show no evidence of conviction by court-martial or other disciplinary action taken against the applicant. 7. 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 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 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. 8. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) 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. 9. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the United Nations Service Medal was awarded for service in Korea during the period from 27 June 1950 through 27 July 1954. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found the relief was warranted. The applicant’s contentions were carefully considered. The applicant enlisted for a 3-year term of service. His DD Form 214 shows his period of service spanned 27 January 1955 through 24 January 1958; his effective date of separation should have reflected 26 January 1958. A look at the calendar for the year 1958 shows 24 January 1958 was a Friday. It appears the DD Form 214 was completed on the last business day of the week and did not add the additional days of credit to provide him with 36 months of service; his DD Form 214 should show he completed 3 years, 00 months, and 00 days. Based upon his record, the Board agreed to grant relief for the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award). The Board also agreed to deny the NDSM and the UN Medal as he did not serve during the periods prescribed by regulatory guidance. 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 (1st Award) for exemplary service from 27 January 1955 thru 26 January 1958; and amending his DD Form 214 to show the following: * Item 11d (Effective Date) the entry 26 January 1958 * Item 24a(1) (Net Service This Period) the entry “03 00 00” * Item 24a(3) (Total for Lines (1) plus (2) the entry “03 00 00” * Item 24b (Total Active Service) the entry “03 00 00” * Item 26 (Decorations) add the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) 2. 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 the National Defense Service Medal and the United Nations Medal to his DD Form 214. 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): Not Applicable. REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 600-65, 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 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 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. 2. Army Regulation 600-8-22 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. Second and subsequent awards of the National Defense Service Medal are denoted by a bronze service star affixed to the National Defense Service Medal. 3. Army Regulation 600-8-22 states the United Nations Service Medal was awarded for service in Korea during the period from 27 June 1950 through 27 July 1954. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20180016257 2 1