IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 5 October 2023 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20230003197 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the U.S. Report of Transfer or Discharge) for the period ending on 11 October 1961 to reflect: * item 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) – Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge – Rifle and Pistol * item 29 (Other Service Training Courses Successfully Completed) – Chemical Biological Radiological (CBR) Instructor and Air Observer * item 32 (Remarks) – Blood Type: "O" positive rather than "A" APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * DD Form 214, 11 October 1961 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 in pertinent part that his most recently issued DD Form 214 is incorrect as it does not accurately reflect his authorized badges, completed courses, or blood type. 3. A review of the applicant's available service records reflects the following: a. After serving as an enlisted Soldier within the U.S. Army Reserve from 29 October 1954 – 3 June 1958, on 4 June 1958, the applicant was appointed as a Reserve commissioned officer. b. On 20 June 1958, the applicant was ordered to active duty to serve as an Ordnance Officer. c. On 8 August 1958, the applicant underwent a medical examination. SF 88 (Report of Medical Examination) item 49 (Blood Type and RH Factor) reflects "O+" as the applicant's blood type; "O" would be his blood group. d. A review of the applicant's DA Form 66 (Officer Qualification Record) shows item 23 (Qualification in Arms) is void of any information. However, the applicant had previous service as an enlisted Soldier. His DA 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record), item 28 (Qualification in Arms) reflects that on 13 October 1957, the applicant qualified as an expert with his M-1 rifle and sharpshooter with his 30 caliber rifle on 18 May 1958. e. On 11 October 1961, the applicant was honorably discharged from active duty. His DD Form 214 reflects the following: * item 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) – "none" * item 28 (Service Schools or Colleges, College Training Courses and or Post Graduate Courses Successfully Completed) reflects: Artillery and Missile School - 17 weeks – Field Artillery Basic * item 32 (Remarks) –: Blood Group "A" BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. After reviewing the application, all supporting documents, and the evidence found within the military record, the Board found partial relief is warranted. 2. The Board noted that the applicant had qualified as an expert with the M-1 rifle and as a sharpshooter with the 30 caliber rifle as an enlisted member in the U.S. Army Reserve. The Board did not find evidence confirming that he maintained those qualifications during his service on active duty as a commissioned officer, nor did the Board find evidence of a qualification score for a pistol. As such, the Board determined the evidence does not support adding any Marksmanship Qualification Badges to the applicant’s DD Form 214. 3. The Board did not find training certificates or other records indicating the applicant completed a CBR instructor course or an air observer course. The Board determined the evidence does not support adding these courses to the applicant’s DD Form 214. 4. The Board concurred with the correction described in Administrative Note(s) below. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF :X :X :X GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by making the correction described in Administrative Note(s) below. 2. The Board further determined the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief. As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to any relief in excess of that described above. 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 NOTE(S): 1. Reference the enclosed request for correction of military records from the subject individual to correct the following item(s) of the applicant's DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) for the period ending 11 October 1961 by amending item 32 (Remarks) to show Blood Group "O" instead of "A." 2. The following documents are sufficient to justify correction of the DD Form 214 without action by the Board. * DD Form 214 * SF 88 (Report of Medical Examination) * Army Regulation 635-5 (Personnel Separations – Separation Documents) 3. Correct the applicant's DD Form 214 to reflect the information shown in paragraph 1 above. Provide the applicant with a copy of the corrections. Please record the corrections in the applicant's official military personnel record. 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 (AR) 635-5 (Personnel Separations – Separation Documents) in effect at that time provides the separation documents that with be furnished to each individual who is separated from the Army. The DD Form 214 will reflect the conditions and circumstances that existed at the time the records were created. The purpose of the separation document is to provide the individual with documentary evidence of his or her military service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. It is important that information entered on the form be complete and accurate and reflects the conditions as they existed at the time of separation. DD Form 214, item 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) will contain the medals or decorations etc. awarded or authorized during the period covered by the DD Form 214, from item 21 (Awards and Decorations), of DA Form 66 (Officer Qualification Record). Item 28 (Service Schools or Colleges, College Training Courses and or Post Graduate Courses Successfully Completed) will contain the service schools, including dates and major courses successfully completed. DD Form 214, item 29 (Other Service Training Courses Successfully Completed), for Officers, will contain the other courses of study and education-level tests successfully completed from information contained in item 16 or 33 of DA Form 66. DD Form 214, Item 32 (Remarks) will contain entries too long for their respective blocks. For Officers, an entry of the Blood Group from the Immunization Record (Standard Form 601) e.g., "Blood Group "O" is permitted. 3. AR 15-185 (ABCMR) paragraph 2-9 states the ABCMR begins its consideration of each case with the presumption of administrative regularity. The applicant has the burden of proving an error or injustice by a preponderance of the evidence. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20230003197 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1