ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


IN THE CASE OF: 
BOARD DATE: 21 October 2019 
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20190010286

APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United 
States Report of Transfer or Discharge) for the period ending 18 December 1972 and 
his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) for the period 
ending 19 July 1991 to show his middle name as 

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD:

   *	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
   *	State of Ohio – Certification of Birth, certified copy dated 14 February 2019 
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 that his middle name is not correct on his two DD Forms 214.

3.	The applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 17 March 1971. 
He was honorably released from active duty on 18 December 1972 and was transferred 
to the United States Army Reserve (USAR) Control Group (Annual Training) after 
completing 1 year, 9 months, and 1 day of total active service. Item 1 (Last Name, First 
Name, Middle Name) of his DD Form 214 shows his middle name as


4.	After serving his mandatory service obligation and having a break in service, he 
enlisted in the Army Reserve on 12 June 1987. Item 1 (Name – Last, First, Middle) of 
his DD Form 4 (Enlistment / Reenlistment Document - Armed Forces of the United 
States) shows he identified his middle name as and signed his name the same way on 
the document.

5.	He was ordered to active duty in support of Operations Desert Shield/Storm on
8 January 1991.  He was honorably released from active duty on 19 July 1991 and was



transferred to his Reserve unit. Item 1 (Last Name, First Name, Middle Name) of his 
DD Form 214 shows his middle name as

6.	The available documents in his record shows he listed his middle name as 
throughout his military service. He authenticated these documents, when required by 
the form, attesting to the correctness of the spelling of his name. In each instance, his 
signature includes the middle name spelled as  His record does not contain any 
documents that show his middle name as per his request.

7.	The applicant provides a copy of a State of Ohio - Certificate of Birth, certified copy 
dated 14 February 2019, which shows his middle name as 

8.	Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), directed to enter the last name, 
first name, and full middle name or names in all capital letters, if any in item 1 at the 
time of separation.

BOARD DISCUSSION:

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

2.	The Board agreed that, although there is no evidence of the requested middle name 
in the available service records, the evidence shows he often signed his name using 
only a middle initial, and when he spelled out his full middle name, he tended to misspell 
it as instead of indicating it may not have been his actual middle name. The Board 
concluded that, based on the birth certificate he provided, he should be granted the 
requested relief.


BOARD VOTE:

Mbr 1
Mbr 2
Mbr 3

:X
:X
:X
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 adding the middle name  
to item 1 of his DD Forms 214 for the periods ending 18 December 1972 and 19 July 
1991.

1/10/2020

 X 	
CHAIRPERSON
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), dated 15 August 1979, prescribes 
the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release 
from active military service or control of the Army. It establishes standardized policy for 
the preparation of the DD Form 214.  For item 1, enter name in all capital letters. 
Include "Jr,"Sr," or "II" when needed, at the time of separation.
//NOTHING FOLLOWS//