ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 26 July 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20190004679 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction to his DD Forms 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to add and correct the following: * Korea Defense Service Medal * Overseas Service Ribbon * National Defense Service Medal * Change letter of appreciation into a Citation for Meritorious Performance of Duty in Korea APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * DD Form 214, ending 28 October 1962 * DD Form 214, ending 28 October 1965 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 Board will not consider the applicant's request for the Korea Defense Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. The two medals will be addressed through an administrative correction and do not require action by this Board. The Board will consider the applicant's request to add the Overseas Service Ribbon and his request to change his letter of appreciation to a citation for meritorious performance of duty in Korea. 3. The applicant states that he served in Korea from 1961 to 1962. He claims he received a "Citation" for excellent performance of duty while stationed in Korea and that the letter of appreciation is incorrect on his DD Form 214 dated, 28 October 1962. 4. The applicant did not provide a copy of the letter of appreciation in his application or the citation he mentions. Neither the letter of appreciation nor the citation was not found in the applicant’s records. 5. On 8 December 1960, the applicant enlisted into the Regular Army. The applicant served in Korea from 22 March 1961 to 4 July 1962. He was honorably discharged for immediate reenlistment on 28 October 1962. Item 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 contains the following entry: "Ltr of Appreciation." 6. On 28 October 1965, the applicant was honorably released from active duty. His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the, "Expert (Rifle and Carbine) and the Good Conduct Medal. 7. The Secretary of the Army established the Overseas Service Ribbon to recognize Soldiers who completed overseas tours of service after 1 August 1981. 8. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time states, for item 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) enter decorations etc., awarded or authorized during the period covered by the DD Form 214. BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. The Board carefully considered the applicant’s request, supporting documents and evidence in the records. The Board considered the applicant’s period of service, criteria for the Overseas Service Ribbon and the entries on his DD Form 214. The Board did not find the citation or letter of appreciation in the applicant’s records, nor did he provide them. The Board determined that his service was prior to the period authorized for the Overseas Service Ribbon. Based upon a preponderance of the evidence, the Board did not find corrections were required to the applicant’s DD Form 214 other than the administrative entries stated in the Administrative Note(s) below. 2. After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that relief was not warranted. 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: With the exception of the corrections in the Administrative Note(s) below, 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. ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE(S): a. Amend the applicant's DD Form's 214 for the period ending on 28 October 1962 to add the following awards: * National Defense Service Medal * Korea Defense Service Medal * Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-1) * Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (Carbine) b. Amend his DD Form 214 for the period ending on 28 October 1965 to add one year, three months, and fourteen days of foreign and/or sea service. c. Explain to the applicant that only the awards earned during the period covered by the DD Form 214 are entered in the form. 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) shows that the Overseas Service Ribbon was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981. The regulation states, in pertinent part, that effective 1 August 1981, all members of the Active Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve in an active Reserve status are eligible for the award for successful completion of overseas tours. The award may be awarded retroactively to those personnel who were credited with a normal overseas tour completion before 1 August 1981 provided they had an Active Army status on or after 1 August 1981 and the overseas service is not recognized with another U.S. service medal. Numerals are used to denote the second and subsequent awards of the Overseas Service Ribbon. 3. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time prescribes the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. It states: a. The DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty. All available military records will be used to prepare this form. b. For item 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) enter decorations etc., awarded or authorized during the period covered by the DD Form 214.