IN THE CASE OF:  
 
  BOARD DATE: 22 August 2023 
 
  DOCKET NUMBER: AR20230001344 
 
 
APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show his: 
 
• foreign service in Operation Desert Shield/Storm 

• several awards 

• a copy of his discharge certificate 


 
APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 
 
• DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record), 16 November 2022 

• Self-authored letter, 1 April 2023 

• Certificate of Achievement, 29 March 1991 

• Army Commendation Medal Certificate, 1 August 1991 

• City of El Paso Appreciation Certificate, 20 August 1991 

• DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) 


 
FACTS: 
 
1.  The applicant did not file within the 3-year time frame provided in Title 10, U.S. 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 his DD Form 214 does not show his service in Desert Storm/Desert Shield, and he is not sure of his dates of deployment. The awards he received are not listed on his DD Form 214, and he also never received his discharge certificate. He has mental, drug and alcohol issues.   
 
3.  On 26 September 1990, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army. He held military occupational specialty (MOS) 71L (Administrative Specialist). Following completion of MOS training he was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Infantry Division, in Germany.  
 
4.  His DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record) shows in:  
• item 5 (Oversea Service) – service in Germany,5 October 1991-4 October 1993. 

• item 9 (Awards, Decorations and Campaigns) – “No entry” 

• item 27 (Remarks) is blank. This item normally reflects authorization for danger pay/overseas service pay and/or service in a combat zone. 


 
5.  The applicant provides: 
 
 a.  His Certificate of Achievement, issued by 70th Ordnance Battalion, 1st Corps Support Command, for his outstanding support during Operation Desert Shield/Storm while serving as Battalion Administrative Clerk in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the period 1 February 1990 to 29 March 1991. 
 
 b.  His Army Commendation Medal, issued by 70th Ordnance Battalion, for his meritorious service during the hostilities of Operation Desert Shield/Storm in the Southwest Asia Theater during the period 1 February 1991 to 1 July 1991. 
 
 c.  He was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation, issued by the City Council of El Paso which shows in part, the mayor, council and all the citizens of El Paso were deeply grateful to the men and women of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard for their great contributions and sacrifices in the Gulf War. 
 
6.  On 30 October 1992, he was honorably discharged from active duty. His DD Form 214 shows he completed 2 years, 1 month and 5 days of service, and in: 
 
• item 12f, no foreign service. 

• item 13, the Army Service Ribbon, and National Defense Service Medal. 

• item 18, no listing of any deployments  


 
7.  Review of the Gulf War Roster, compiled by the Defense Manpower Data Center, Desert Shield/Storm data base, does not show the applicant served in the Gulf War. 
 
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 on active duty from 26 September 1990 to 30 October 1992. He served in Germany from 5 October 1991 to around 30 October 1992 (1 year and 25 days). He provides a Certificate of Achievement for his outstanding support during Operation Desert Shield/Storm in Saudi Arabia from 1 February 1991 to 29 March 1991 and an Army Commendation Medal for his service during Operations Desert Shield/Storm in the Southwest Asia from 1 February 1991 to 1 July 1991. Both documents indicate he served in Southwest Asia from 1 February 1991 to 1 July 1991, 
a period of 5 months. The Board determined his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show his foreign service, deployment, and corresponding awards.  
 
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: 
 
 a.  Amending his DD Form 214 as follows: 
 
• Adding to Item 12f (Foreign Service) the entry 0001-05-25 

• Adding to item 13 ending (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) – the Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 bronze service stars, Overseas Service Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal (K) and Kuwait Liberation Medal (SA)  

• Adding to item 18 (Remarks) the entry Service in Southwest Asia from 1 February 1991 to 1 July 1991 


 
 b.  Issuing the applicant an Honorable Discharge Certificate from 26 September 1990 to 30 October 1992. 
 
  8/22/2023

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, U.S. 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 635-5 (Separation Documents) states the DD Form 214 is a summary of the Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty. The specific instructions for:  
 
• item 12f, enter the total amount of service performed outside the continental Unites States during the period covered by the DD Form 214 

• item 13, List all federally recognized awards and decorations for all periods of service  

• item 18, for active duty Soldiers deployed with their unit during their continuous period of active service, enter “SERVICE IN (NAME OF COUNTRY DEPLOYED) FROM (inclusive date)” 


 
3.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards.  
 
 a.  The Kuwait Liberation Medal awarded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KLM-SA) was approved on 3 January 1992 and is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who participated in the Persian Gulf War between 17 January 1991 and 28 February 1991. 
 
 b.  The Kuwait Liberation Medal awarded by the Government of Kuwait (KLM-K) was approved on 9 November 1995 and is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who participated in the Persian Gulf War between 2 August 1990 and 31 August 1993. 
 
 c.  The Southwest Asia Service Medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States serving in Southwest Asia and contiguous waters or airspace there over, on or after 2 August 1990 to 30 November 1995. A bronze service star is authorized for wear with this medal for participation in each credited campaign. Approved designated campaigns are: 
 
• Defense of Saudi Arabia (2 August 1990 to 16 January 1991) 

• Liberation and Defense of Kuwait (17 January to 11 April 1991)  

• Cease-Fire Campaign (12 April 1991 to 30 November 1995) 


 
d.  The Overseas Service Ribbon was established by the SECARMY on 10 April 1981 as announced in DAGO 1990–15. It is awarded to Servicemembers of the U.S. Army for successful completion of overseas tours. Effective 1 August 1981, all Servicemembers of the Active Army, ARNG, and USAR in an active Reserve status are eligible for this award. Soldiers must be credited with a normal overseas tour completion in accordance with AR 614–30. Servicemembers who have overseas service with another branch of the U.S. Armed Forces must be credited with a normal overseas tour completion by that Service to qualify for award of the Army OSR. As an exception to paragraph 5–4c, RC Soldiers who were mobilized and dispatched overseas to locations outside the theater of operations during Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM (2 August 1990 to 11 April 1991) are eligible for award of the OSR without regard to the time served overseas as long as the overseas service is not recognized with another U.S. service medal. 
 
e.  Commanders may recognize periods of faithful service, acts, or achievements which do not meet the standards required for decorations by issuing to individual U.S. personnel a DA Form 2442 (Certificate of Achievement) or a Certificate of Achievement of local design. The citation on such certificates will not be worded so that the act of service performed appears to warrant the award of a decoration.  
 
4.  Army Regulation 635-8 (Separation Processing and Documents) prescribes policy and procedural guidance relating to transition management. A DD Form 256A (Honorable Discharge Certificate) will be issued to all Soldiers receiving an honorable discharge.  
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