IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 11 January 2022 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20210007472 APPLICANT REQUESTS: reconsideration of his previous request for correction to Block 26 (Foreign and/or Sea Service) of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) to show 2 years, 5 months and 16 days instead of 1 year, 5 months and 16 days. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * Reconsideration Letter * Travel Voucher, 25 June 1953 * Schedule of Expenses and Amounts Claimed * Special Orders Number 56, 22 March 1954 * Order Number 11, 21 April 1954 * Special Order Number 112, 2 June 1954 * Special Orders Number 161, 13 August 1954 * Military Police Corps Program, 25 September 1955 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 AR20180010654, on 21 June 2019. 2. The applicant states he enlisted in the Army as a RA (Regular Army) for 3 years. Regular Army is a 3-year service. He was in the Army from 2 January 1953 to 7 December 1955 - 2 years, 11 months, and 6 days. All of his time, except for 6 months of basic training, was in France, which was 2 years, 5 months, and 16 days of Foreign Service. Not the 1 year, 5 months, and 16 days shown on his DD Form 214. The DD Form 214 shows the correct entry and separation dates, but not the correct years of Foreign Service. It was not possible to have been outside Foreign Service for a full year during his three years of Regular Army. He has enclosed documents that all show his name in attendance in the 520th Military Police Company at SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe) in Paris, France throughout the time disputed. 3. The applicant's 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 in 1973. It is believed that his records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, there were sufficient documents on file or provided by the applicant for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. 4. The applicant's DD Form 214 shows he enlisted in the Regular Army for 3 years on 2 January 1953. His most significant assignment was with the 520th Military Police Company. 5. His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) which would have listed his assignment history and/or overseas service is not available for review. 6. The applicant provides: a. Travel Voucher, dated July 1953, that shows he was authorized travel pay in the discharge of his official duties from 16 June 1953 to 3 July 1953, while assigned to 520th Military Police Company, SHAPE, Europe, and Schedule of Expenses and Amounts Claimed from 15 June 1953 to 3 July 1953. b. Special Orders Number 56, issued by Headquarters, U.S. Army Element, SHAPE, on 22 March 1954, appointing him to the temporary grade of corporal on 27 March 1953. c. Order Number 11, issued by 520th Military Police Service Company, Europe, on 21 April 1954 announcing the applicant's additional duties as Alternate Mail Clerk. d. Special Orders Number 112, issued by Headquarters, U.S. Army Element, SHAPE, on 2 June 1954, in relation to the applicant's qualification with the .45 Caliber Pistol. e. Special Orders Number 161, issued by Headquarters, U.S. Army Element, SHAPE, on 13 August 1954, granting the applicant 40 days of ordinary leave on or about 21 August 1954. g. 520th Military Police Company Program, SHAPE, dated 25 September 1955, celebrating the 14th Anniversary of the Military Police Corps. His name is shown in attendance. 7. He was honorably released from active duty on 7 December 1955. His DD Form 214 also shows he completed 2 years, 11 months, and 6 days of active service. It also shows in Block 26 he completed 1 year, 5 months, 16 days of Foreign Service. 8. On 21 June 2019, the Board denied his request to increase his foreign service. The Board carefully considered his request, supporting documents and the available evidence in the records. The Board discussed his statement, the fact that his was a burnt record and the place of his separation. The Board determined that there was insufficient evidence of additional Foreign Service to make the applicant's requested change to the record. After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that relief was not warranted. 9. By regulation (AR 635-5), the DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier's most recent period of continuous active service. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active Army service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. Block 26 shows the total active service performed outside the continental limits of the United States for the period covered by the DD Form 214. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application, all supporting documents, and the evidence found within the military record, the Board found that relief was warranted. The applicant’s contentions, the military record, and regulatory guidance were carefully considered. Board members noted that the applicant provided evidence that he was overseas between at least July 1953 (Travel Voucher, dated July 1953, that shows he was authorized travel pay in the discharge of his official duties from 16 June 1953 to 3 July 1953, while assigned to 520th Military Police Company, SHAPE) and 25 September 1955 (520th Military Police Company Program, SHAPE, dated 25 September 1955, celebrating the 14th Anniversary of the MP Corps with his name is shown in attendance). Although his exact dates of arrival and departure remain unclear, Board members found sufficient evidence to grant 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 that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant amendment of the ABCMR’s decision in Docket Number AR20180010654, on 21 June 2019. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending his Block 26 (Foreign and/or Sea Service) of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) to show 2 years, 5 months and 16 days instead of 1 year, 5 months and 16 days. 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: Army Regulation 635-5 (Personnel Separations), then in effect, states the DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier's most recent period of continuous active service. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active Army service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. For item 26, enter the total active service performed outside the continental limits of the United States for the period covered by the DD Form 214 //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20210007472 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1