From:  Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records 
To:    Secretary of the Navy 
 
Subj:                 
 
Ref:   (a) 10 U.S.C. § 1552 
 
Encl:  (1) DD Form 149 
 
1.  Pursuant to the provisions of the reference, Petitioner, a former enlisted member of the Marine Corps, filed the enclosure with this Board requesting to be awarded the Combat Action Ribbon (CAR). 
 
2.  The Board, consisting of , reviewed Petitioner’s allegations of error and injustice on 20 November 2019, 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 Petitioner’s 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 regulation within the Department of the Navy. 
 
      b.  Although the enclosure 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 and began a period of active duty on 7 June 1965.  From 19 December 1965 until 2 December 1966, Petitioner served as a Field Artillery Batteryman with Battery , Battalion,  Regiment, Marine Division in Vietnam.  On 15 February 1968, Petitioner redeployed to Vietnam and served with Battery ,  Battalion, Regiment,  Marine Division and with , Marine Division until 12 September 1968.  On 1 April 1969, Petitioner was discharged with an honorable characterization of service. 
 
      d.  On 1 July 2019, the Board requested an Advisory Opinion (AO) as to whether Petitioner is entitled to the CAR.  On 9 October 2019, Commandant of the Marine Corps, Manpower and Reserve Affairs (MMMA-3A) provided an AO and after reviewing all the evidence available and the applicable statutes and policies concluded Petitioner is entitled to the CAR. 
 
CONCLUSION 
 
Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, the Board concurs with the AO and finds the existence of an error warranting relief. 
 
RECOMMENDATION 
 
In view of the above, the Board directs the following corrective action: 
 
That Petitioner’s naval record be corrected by awarding the CAR. 
 
That Petitioner be issued a new DD Form 214. 
 
That no further action be granted. 
 
A copy of this report of proceedings be filed in Petitioner’s naval record. 
 
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 the reference, has been approved by the Board on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy.