IN THE CASE OF: 
 
  BOARD DATE: 15 August 2023 
 
  DOCKET NUMBER: AR20230000861 
 
 
APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his service record to reflect he was awarded the Korea Defense Service Meal. 
 
APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 
 
• DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) 

• Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) for 1 through 31 March 1984 

• LES for 1 through 30 April 1984 

• DD Form 1610 (Request and Authorization for Temporary Duty (TDY) of Department of Defense (DoD) Personnel) 

• DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) for service ending 4 December 1984 

• National Personnel Records Center letter, 21 October 2022 


 
FACTS: 
 
1.  The applicant did not file within the 3-year time frame provided in Title 10, U.S. 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 he believes that he is eligible to be awarded the Korea Defense Service Medal for which he was deemed to be ineligible by the National Personnel Records Center. He deployed to Korea for the Team Spirit Exercise in South Korea during the period of 3 March through 8 April 1984 and he served a consecutive 90-days in South Korea during the period of 15 August through 14 November 1984.  
 
3.  A review of the applicant's service record shows: 
 
 a.  The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army 9 December 1982. 
 
 b.  DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) shows the applicant served in Hawaii during the period of 9 July 1983 through on or about 3 December 1984. He did not receive overseas tour credit. 
 c.  The applicant was honorably released from active duty on 4 December 1984 and assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Control Group (Annual Training). DD Form 214 shows the applicant completed 1-year, 11-months, and 26-days of active service. Item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) shows: 
 
• Army Achievement Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster) 

• Army Good Conduct Medal 

• Army Service Ribbon 

• Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-16) 


 
 d.  The applicant's service record is void of evidence he enlisted in the USAR. He reenlisted in the USAR on 1 October 1988. 
 
 e.  The applicant's service record is void of evidence of his discharge from the USAR. 
 
4.  The applicant provides: 
 
 a.  LES for the period of 1 through 31 March 1984 which shows on 12 March 1984 he was authorized oversea pay. 
 
 b.  LES for the period of 1 through 30 April 1984 which shows on 8 April 1984 the overseas pay was stopped. 
 
 c.  DD Form 1610 dated 18 July 1984 the 125th Military Intelligence Battalion was authorized to proceed on 15 August 1984 to Camp Humphrey's Korea to readiness training with the 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion at Camp Humphries, Korea for 90-days of Live Environment Training for the period of 15 August through 14 November 1984. Item 16 (Remarks) stated a travel voucher is to be filled out with the Division Finance Office within 10 working days after the completion of the TDY. The travel voucher is to be completed whether travel was performed or not. The applicant's name appears on the personnel list. 
 
 d.  National Personnel Records Center letter dated 21 October 2022 states a review of the military personnel record for the applicant indicated he was not eligible for the Korea Defense Service Medal. 
 
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. The 
evidence shows the applicant served in Korea during a 90-day Live Environment Training, 15 August through 14 November 1984. This qualifies him for award of the Korea Defense Service Medal and its addition 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 adding the Korea Defense Service Medal to his DD Form 214. 
 
  8/15/2023

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 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 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Department of the Army (DA) policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. Paragraph 2-22 (Korea Defense Service Medal), it is authorized for award to Servicemembers of the Armed Forces of the United States who have served on active duty in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea. The Area of Eligibility (AOE) encompasses all land area of the Republic of Korea, and the contiguous water out to 12 nautical miles, and all airspaces above the land and water areas and the period of eligibility is 28 July 1954 to a date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense. Servicemembers must have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating in the AOE for 30 consecutive or for 60 non-consecutive days, or meet the following criteria: 
 
• be engaged in combat during an armed engagement, regardless of the time in the AOE 

• wounded or injured in the line of duty and requires medical evacuation from the AOE 

• while participating as a regularly assigned air crewmember flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the AOE in direct support of military operations 

• personnel who serve in operations and exercises conducted in the AOE are considered eligible for the award if the basic time criteria are met, due to the extensive time period for Korea Defense Service Medal eligibility, the non-consecutive service period for eligibility remains cumulative throughout the entire period 


 
//NOTHING FOLLOWS//