ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS BOARD DATE: 8 November 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20190012780 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his military records to show his name as in lieu of . APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * self-authored statement * State of County of Wrder Index Number 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 (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’s complete military service record is not available to the Board for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members’ records at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in 1973 and his records were potentially affected by the fire. His case is being considered using the available evidence. 3. The applicant states: a. He legally changed his name from on and requests his military records be corrected to reflect his legal name change. b. He was born on and served in the U.S. Army from 5 February 1951 through January 1953 under his birth name of His serial number was US 4. The only available service record from NPRC pertaining to the applicant is a roster of Soldiers among which he is listed. The applicant is listed on the roster as with serial number US 5. The applicant provided a State of Order Index Number which shows he changed his name from to on 19 May 1989. 6. There are no documents in the applicant’s available service records that list his name as BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice pertaining to the applicant's request to correct his name in the record. The Board found insufficient evidence in the applicant’s record of the name he requests to reflect on his DD Form 214; the applicant's official military personnel file contains documents that show he consistently used the name listed on his DD Form 214, throughout his service. The Board agreed regulatory guidance provides for the maintaining of military records as they were during the member’s period of service. 2. The applicant is advised that a copy of this decisional document will be filed in his official military personnel file. This should serve to clarify any questions or confusion about the difference in the name recorded in his military records and the name on his marriage certificate and other current identification documents. 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 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 615-360-1 (Enlisted Personnel – Separation of Enlisted Personnel), in effect at the time, established procedures to be followed in the separation of enlisted personnel from active military service and described the proper method of execution an disposition of the various forms, records, and reports required, including the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. Instructions for the completion of Item 1 (Last Name – First Name – Middle Name) state to enter the last name, first name, and spell out the full middle name or names, if any, with two typewriter spaces between the last name and first name, and between the first and middle names. 3. Army Regulation 15-185 (Army Board for Correction of Military Records) prescribes the policies and procedures for correction of military records by the Secretary of the Army acting through the ABCMR. The ABCMR begins its consideration of each case with the presumption of administrative regularity. The applicant has the burden of proving an error or injustice by a preponderance of the evidence. NOTHING FOLLOWS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20190012780 4 1