From:  Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records 
To:      Secretary of the Navy 
 
Subj:    REVIEW OF NAVAL RECORD OF   
             
 Ref: (a) 10 U.S.C. §1552 
(b) SECDEF memorandum, “Supplemental Guidance to Military Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records Considering Discharge Upgrade Requests by Veterans Claiming PTSD,” of 3 September 2014 
(c) PDUSD memorandum, “Consideration of Discharge Upgrade requests Pursuant to Supplemental Guidance to Military Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records by Veterans Claiming PTSD or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI),” of 25 February 2016. 
(d) SECDEF memorandum, “Clarifying Guidance to Military Discharge Review Boards and Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records Considering Requests by Veterans for cation of their Discharge Due to Mental Health Conditions, Sexual Assault, or Sexual Harassment,” of 25 August 2017 
 
Encl: (1) DD Form 149 
  
1.  Pursuant to the provisions of the reference, Petitioner, a former member of the Marine Corps,  filed the enclosure with this Board, requesting that his other than honorable characterization of service be upgraded. 
 
2.  The Board, consisting of , reviewed the subject former member’s allegations of error and injustice on 15 July 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 enclosure, relevant portions of the subject former member’s naval records, and applicable statutes, regulations, and policies. 
 
3.  The Board, having reviewed all the facts of record pertaining to the subject former member’s allegations of error and injustice, finds as follows: 
 
     a.  Before applying to this Board, the Petitioner exhausted all administrative remedies available under existing law and regulations within the Department of the Navy. 
 
      b.  The Petitioner enlisted in the Marine Corps and began a period of active duty on 28 July 1965.   
 
   c.  The Petitioner was in a unit that was ordered to the , and he participated in several combat operations there between the dates of 18 June 1966 to 8 July 1967.  Beginning in or around 23October 1967, Petitioner commenced a period of unauthorized absence, surrendering on 28 December 1968. 
 
    d.  Upon his return, Petitioner received a medical evaluation, which determined that Petitioner had a disturbed emotional state such that it excused his misconduct, and he was not disciplined for his lengthy unauthorized absence.  On 8 April 1968, Petitioner was discharged due to a medical finding that he was mentally unfit for service, with a general characterization of service.  Prior to his unauthorized absence, Petitioner’s proficiency and conduct marks were in the average of between 4.2 and 4.7.   
 
 e.  Petitioner included with his submission a determination by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which, among other things, found service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder. 
 
CONCLUSION 
 
Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, as well as references (b) through (d), the Board finds the existence of an error warranting relief.  Specifically, the Board found that Petitioner’s conduct was mitigated by his PTSD as a result of combat operations in the  
 
RECOMMENDATION 
 
In view of the above, the Board directs the following corrective action: 
 
Petitioner’s naval record be corrected by issuing him a new DD Form 214 reflecting that his characterization of his service at his discharge from Marine Corps was honorable, and issuing him an certificate of discharge reflecting honorable service, and that no further action be granted. 
 
A copy of this report of proceedings shall be filed in Petitioner’s naval record. 
 
That upon request, the Department of Veterans Affairs is informed that Petitioner’s application was received by the Board on 9 April 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 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 the reference, has been approved by the Board on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy.