BOARD DATE:  8 June 2020

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20190007618


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United 
States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show the award of the Army Commendation 
Medal.

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, section 1552(b); however, the 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 his Army Commendation Medal was not placed on his  
DD Form 214 at the time of his discharge.

3.  A review of the applicant’s service records show:

	a.  He enlisted in the Regular Army on 17 April 1968.  He held military occupational 
specialty 95B (Military Police) and was assigned to an MP Company at Fort Hood, TX.

	b.  His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) does not list the Army 
Commendation Medal as an authorized award.

   c.  His record does not contain and he does ot provide orders awarding him the 
Army Commendation Medal.

	d.  He was honorably released from active duty on 18 March 1971.  His  
DD Form 214 shows he served 2 years, 11 months, and 2 days of active service.  It also 
shows he was awarded or authorized National Defense Service Medal, Expert 
Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar, and Marksman Marksmanship 
Qualification Badge with Pistol Bar.

4.  A review of the Awards and Decorations Computer-Assisted Retrieval System 
(ADCARS) an index of general orders issued during the Vietnam era between 1965 and 
1973 maintained by the Military Awards Branch of the U.S. Army Human Resources 
Command failed to reveal an award of the Army Commendation Medal for the applicant.

5.  By regulation, as with all personal decorations, award of the Army Commendation 
Medal requires formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and 
announcement in orders.  

BOARD DISCUSSION:

1.  After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that 
relief was / was not warranted.

2.  


BOARD VOTE:

Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

:	:	:	GRANT FULL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT FORMAL HEARING

:	:	:	DENY APPLICATION


BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

1.  

2.  


		  
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 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Army Commendation Medal 
may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while 
serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, distinguishes himself or 
herself by heroism, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service.  As with all 
personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of 
command, and announcement in orders are required.

//NOTHING FOLLOWS//
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20190007618


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ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


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