DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 
BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF NAVAL RECORDS 
701 S. COURTHOUSE ROAD, SUITE 1001 
ARLINGTON, VA 22204-2490

Docket No. 6784-18


From: Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records 
To:   Secretary of the Navy   
 
Subj: REVIEW OF NAVAL RECORD OF FORMER  
              
 
Ref:     (a) 10 U.S.C. 1552 
  (b) DoD Manual 1348.33 (Manual of Military Decorations and Awards) 
  (c) SECNAVINST 1640.1H (Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual)  
   
Encl: (1) DD Form 149 with attachments 
     (2) Case summary 
 
1.  Pursuant to the provisions of reference (a), Petitioner, a former Marine, filed enclosure (1) with this Board requesting a change to his Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) dated  to reflect his entitlement to the Combat Action Ribbon and the   .  Additionally, although not specifically requested by the Petitioner, the Board also considered the Petitioner’s entitlement to the  of  given the dates of his active duty service in     .
 
2.  The Board, consisting of  reviewed Petitioner's allegations of error and injustice  and, pursuant to its regulations, determined that the corrective action indicated below should be taken on the available evidence of record.  Documentary material considered by the Board consisted of the enclosures, relevant portions of his naval service records, and applicable statutes, regulations, policies.  
 
3.  The Board, having reviewed all the facts of record pertaining to Petitioner's allegations of error and injustice finds as follows:   
 
a. Before applying to this Board, Petitioner exhausted all administrative remedies available under existing law and regulations within the Department of the Navy, and although enclosure (1) was not filed by Petitioner in a timely manner, the Board found it in the interest of justice to waive the statute of limitations and consider his application on its merits. 

b. The Petitioner served in the Marine Corps from  and he earned an honorable discharge upon his release from active duty.  While stationed in the Petitioner served with the   
 
c. The Petitioner’s original DD Form 214 reflects entitlement to the following four awards: 

1)  Good Conduct Medal; 

2)  National Defense Service Medal; 

3)  (with 2 bronze star attachments); and 

4)  United Nations Service Medal. 

 
d. Bureau of Naval Personnel Retired Records Section (BNP) reviewed Petitioner’s official military personnel file and noted on a “Transmittal of and/or Entitlement to Awards” form dated 5 August 2000 (NAVPERS 1650/65), that Petitioner is entitled to the following six awards: 

1)  Good Conduct Medal; 

2)  National Defense Service Medal; 

3)  (with 2 bronze star attachments);  

4)  United Nations Service Medal; 

5)  Combat Action Ribbon (CAR); and  

6)     

 
e. The Petitioner’s service record clearly indicates that he participated in combat operations against enemy forces in   The Head, Military Awards Branch, Military Personnel Division at Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) notified Petitioner in a letter dated   However, no “Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty” form (DD Form 215) was issued to reflect Petitioner’s entitlement to either the CAR, or the.  

f. Reference (c) lists the eligibility requirements for the   Military personnel who either served in or through some special duty deployed to and returned from the combat zone from are eligible for The Board noted that the Petitioner’s duty dates in clearly met the eligibility requirements.   

g. Reference (c) also provides that the  is authorized for wear by personnel who served with certain commands or with units of those commands that were individually cited by the President of the   The Petitioner served with the  a command specifically listed as eligible for the   

h.   Accordingly, the Board determined that the Petitioner is additionally entitled to the CAR, the   The Board concluded that their decision was consistent with current awards guidance as outlined in references (b) and (c).   


 
CONCLUSION: 
 
Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, especially in light of BNP’s and HQMC’s awards verification, and the Board’s own independent analysis, the Board determined that Petitioner’s request warrants relief.   
 
In view of the above, the Board directs the following corrective action. 
RECOMMENDATION: 
 
That Petitioner’s be issued a “Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty” (DD Form 215) for the period ending  to indicate the entitlement to the following decorations, medals, badges, commendations, citations, and campaign ribbons in Block 27: 
          
1)  Good Conduct Medal; 

2)  National Defense Service Medal; 

3)  (with 2 bronze star attachments);  

4)  United Nations Service Medal; 

5)  Combat Action Ribbon;   

6)    

7)     


 
Following the corrections to the DD-214 for the period ending  indicating the revised entitlement to Petitioner’s decorations, medals, badges, commendations, citations, and campaign ribbons, that all other information currently listed on such DD-214 remain the same. 
 
That a copy of this report of proceedings be filed in Petitioner’s naval record. 
 
That, upon request, the Department of Veterans Affairs be informed that Petitioner's application was received by the Board on  
 
4.  It is certified that a quorum was present at the Board’s review and deliberations, and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board’s proceedings in the above entitled matter. 
 
5.  Pursuant to the delegation of authority set out in Section 6(e) of the revised Procedures of the Board for Correction of Naval Records (32 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 723.6(e)) and  
having assured compliance with its provisions, it is hereby announced that the foregoing corrective action, taken under the authority of reference (a), has been approved by the Board on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy.