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

Docket No: 3776-19  
Ref:   Signature Date  

From: Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records  
To:   Commandant of the Marine Corps  

Ref:  (a) 10 U.S.C. 1552 
      (b) SECNAVINST 1910.4B 

Encl: (1) DD Form 149 with attachments 
      (2) Subject's naval record (excerpts) 

1.  Pursuant to the provisions of reference (a), Petitioner, a former enlisted member of the Marine Corps Reserve, filed enclosure (1) with this Board requesting a change to his naval record, specifically, his Characterization of Service on his Certificate of Discharge (DD 257) be changed from “General Under Honorable Conditions” to “Honorable”.  Enclosures (1) through (3) apply. 

2.  The Board, consisting of    , reviewed Petitioner's allegations of error and injustice on 7 May 2020 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, naval records, and applicable statutes, regulations, and 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. 

b.  Although enclosure (1) was not filed in a timely manner, it is in the interest of justice to waive the statute of limitations and review the application on its merits. 

c.  Petitioner enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on 27 February 1956.  On 1 December 1956, he was placed on the temporary disability retirement list (TDRL). On 29 September 1958, a physical review board determined that Petitioner was unfit for duty and recommended he be removed from the TDRL and separated from the Marine Corps Reserve with severance pay due to a physical disability.  On 10 October 1958, he was discharged with an honorable characterization of service.  Subsequently, Petitioner received a Certificate of Discharge (DD 
257) which shows he was issued a general under honorable conditions characterization of service 

CONCLUSION: 

Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, the Board concluded that an error occurred when Petitioner received a DD 257 which shows he received a general under honorable conditions characterization of service when discharged from the Marine Corps Reserve.  In this regard, the Board concludes that Petitioner should be issued a corrected DD 257 that shows he received an honorable characterization of service on 10 October 1958.

RECOMMENDATION: 

In view of the foregoing, the Board finds the existence of an injustice warranting the following corrective action: 

That Petitioner be issued a new DD 257 showing that he received an honorable discharge on 10 October 1958. 

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 26 March 2019. 

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 Regulation, 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.