ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


		IN THE CASE OF:  

		BOARD DATE:  1 March 2023

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20220006873


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United 
States Report of Transfer of Discharge) for the period ending 23 June 1964 to show he 
was authorized the Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM).

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD:

*	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
*	DD Form 214 for the period ending on 23 June 1964

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 states, in effect, he served three years of honorable service and 
should be authorized the AGCM. He did not know he could apply to have this award 
added to his DD Form 214.

3.  The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214.

4.  A review of the applicant’s service record shows:

a.	On 5 July 1961, he enlisted in the Regular Army for a period of three years. 

b.	DA Form 24 (Service Record) shows he received all “excellent” or “blank” 
ratings for conduct and efficiency for his period of service. 

c.	DD Form 214 for the period ending on 23 June 1964, shows he was 
honorably released from active duty and transferred to the USAR. He completed 2 
years, 11 months and 17 days of net service this period. This document does not reflect 
he was awarded the AGCM.

d.	His record does not reflect any orders authorizing the award of the AGCM. In 
addition, his record does not contain any derogatory information.

e.	The applicant is authorized additional awarded not listed on his DD Form 214.

BOARD DISCUSSION:

1.  After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that 
relief was warranted. The Board carefully considered the applicant's record of service, 
documents submitted in support of the petition and executed a comprehensive and 
standard review based on law, policy and regulation. Upon review of the applicant’s 
petition and available military records the Board determined the applicant's service 
record did not reflect he was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st award) and 
his record shows he received "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings throughout his 
service for the period of 5 July 1961 to 2 June 1964. Based on this the Board 
determined relief was warranted and granted relief for correction of the applicant’s 
record to show award of the Army Good Conduct Medal.

2.  Prior to closing the case, the Board did note the analyst of record administrative 
notes below, and recommended the correction is completed to more accurately depict 
the military service of the applicant.


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:

In addition to the administrative notes annotated by the Analyst of Record (below the 
signature), 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 awarding him the Army 
Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) for exemplary service from 5 July 1961 to 2 June 
1964 and adding the medal to his DD Form 214 for the period ending 2 June 1964.

 
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 NOTES(S):

A review of the applicant’s records shows he is authorized an additional award not listed 
on his DD Form 214. As a result, amend his DD Form 214 by adding the National 
Defense Service Medal.


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.  Army Regulation 672-5-1 (Awards), in effect at the time, states the AGCM was 
awarded for each 3 years of continuous enlisted active Federal military service 
completed on or after 27 August 1940; for first award only, 1 year served entirely during 
the period 7 December 1941 to 2 March 1946; and, for the first award only, upon 
termination of service on or after 27 June 1950 of less than 3 years but more than 1 
year. The enlisted person must have had all “excellent” conduct and efficiency ratings. 
Ratings of “Unknown” for portions of the period under consideration were not 
disqualifying. There must have been no convictions by a court-martial. However, there 
was no right or entitlement to the medal until the immediate commander made a 
positive recommendation for its award and until the awarding authority announced the 
award in general orders.

3.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) in effect at the time, established the 
standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. It stated that item 
22f would show the total active-duty service performed outside the continental limits of 
the United States for the period covered by the DD Form 214 and the last overseas 
theater where the foreign service was performed, e.g., USAREUR (U.S. Army Europe) 
or USARPAC.  

//NOTHING FOLLOWS//

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20220006873

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