Docket No: 6471-19 
Ref: Signature date 
 
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) NAVMC 2922 
           (c) SECNAVINST 1650.1H 
 
Encl:  (1)  DD Form 149 
 (2)  Subject's naval record (excerpts) 
            (3) HQMC Awards Branch Advisory Opinion (AO) dated 24 Sep 19 
            (4) AO rebuttal dated 18 Oct 19 
 
1.  Pursuant to the provisions of reference (a), Petitioner, filed enclosure (1) with this Board requesting that the Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with four bronze stars, Navy Unit Commendation with two bronze stars,  War Service Medal,  Presidential Unit Citation, and the Combat Action Ribbon be added to his Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States (DD Form 214).    
 
2.  The Board, consisting of  reviewed Petitioner's allegations of error and injustice on 16 March 2020, and pursuant to its regulations, determined that the partial 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 records, applicable statutes, regulations, policies, an (AO) provided by Headquarters, Marine Corps Awards Branch, and his rebuttal dated 18 October 2019.   
 
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.  Petitioner enlisted in the Marine Corps and began a period of active service on 18 July 1951.  During the period from 8 April 1952 to 15 February 1953, while assigned to , he participated in operations against enemy forces in South and .  On 17 July 1954, he was released from active duty at the expiration of his enlistment with an honorable characterization of service. 
 
     c.  At the time of his discharge, he was issued a DD Form 214 indicating entitlement to the following awards: Service Medal with three bronze stars, United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.   
 
     d.  The Board reviewed enclosure (3), an AO provided by HQMC, Awards Branch indicating Petitioner is entitled to the following awards: Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal,  Presidential Unit Citation, and the  Service Medal. 
 
Petitioner was not entitled to any additional awards of the Presidential Unit Citation or Navy Unit Commendation as he did not serve with any additional units authorized these awards.   
 
Petitioner was not entitled to the Combat Action Ribbon as there was no evidence in his record that he met the basic eligibility requirements for this award. 
 
     e.  In Petitioner’s rebuttal to the AO, he understood the rationale for not being awarded additional Presidential Unit Citations and Navy Unit Commendations.  But, he believed he was still entitled to the Combat Action Ribbon based on his experiences in  with . 
 
CONCLUSION 
 
Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, the Board concludes that Petitioner’s request warrants partial relief.  The Board concurred with the AO provided by HQMC, Awards Branch.  Additionally, upon an independent review of Petitioner’s record, the Board determined he was entitled to the Rifle Expert Badge.   
 
In view of the foregoing, the Board finds the existence of an injustice warranting the following partial corrective action. 
  
RECOMMENDATION 
 
Petitioner be issued a Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 215) indicating the following additional awards: 
 
           - Presidential Unit Citation,  
           - Navy Unit Commendation,  
           - Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal,  
           -  Presidential Unit Citation,  
           -  War Service Medal, and 
           - Rifle Expert Badge 
 
That no further corrections be made to Petitioner’s record. 
 
Upon request, the Department of Veterans Affairs be informed that Petitioner's application was received by the Board on 27 June 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. 


6/17/2020