IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 3 August 2023 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20230000065 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) for the period ending 5 March 1954 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, 5 March 1954 * Honorable Discharge Certificate 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 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, during his time in service, he served honorably and faithfully. He was a few days short of completing three consecutive years of honorable service when he was discharged on 5 March 1954. He had no control over the date of his discharge. He believes he should be given some flexibility since he served in the Korean War Era. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his Honorable Discharge Certificate, dated 13 March 1951, for his prior service in the U.S. Navy. 4. The applicant s records are limited and only contain a copy of his DD Form 214, which reflects the following information: a. On 12 March 1951, he enlisted in the Regular Army. b. On 5 March 1954, he was honorably discharged. He completed 2 years, 11 months, and 24 days of net service completed for pay purposes this period, and 1 year, 11 months, and 9 days of foreign service. Item 27 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) shows he received the National Defense Service Medal and no other awards. c. Since his service record is incomplete, there is no documentation to show if he had any reductions in grade/rank, if he received all "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings, or if he had any time lost. d. His records are void of any disciplinary actions or derogatory information that would have disqualified him from receiving the AGCM for the period 12 March 1951 through 5 March 1954. BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found relief is warranted. 2. The Board found the applicant met the criteria for the AGCM (1st Award). The Board determined he should be awarded the medal and it should be added to his DD Form 214. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 :xx :xx :xx 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: * Awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) for the period 12 March 1951 through 5 March 1954 * Adding the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) to his DD Form 214 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, United States Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 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 3-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, stated the Army Good Conduct Medal was awarded for each 3 years of continuous enlisted active Federal military service completed on or after 27 August 1940; for the 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. Service school efficiency ratings based upon academic proficiency of at least "good" rendered subsequent to 22 November 1955 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. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20230000065 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1