2.  The applicant requests correction of his military records to reflect entitlement to the Kuwait Liberation Medal.  He also asks that his DD Form 214 be reissued for clarity purposes and notes that several items on his separation document were typed in such a way that they over lapped the pre-printed information on the form which essentially makes the form and typed entries unreadable.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant served on active duty between March 1988 and January 1992.  He was deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Desert Storm from 27 January until 12 June 1991.

4.  Copies of the applicant’s DD Form 214, issued at the time of his separation from active duty on 24 January 1992 and contained in his Official Military Personnel File, all contain entries, which because of the way they were typed, are unreadable.  While the separation report does reflect entitlement to the Southwest Asia Service Medal it does not reflect entitlement to the Kuwait Liberation Medal.  Additionally, the applicant was awarded only one bronze service star based on his service in Southwest Asia when he should have been awarded two.  The applicant was not available to sign the separation when is was issued.

5.  Service in the Persian Gulf War was recognized by award of the Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM) to Army members who participated in Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm in the designated area on or after 2 August 1990.  A bronze service star is authorized for the Defense of Saudi Arabia (2 August 1990 to 16 January 1991) and the Liberation and Defense of Kuwait (17 January to 11 April 1991.  A Cease-fire Campaign period began on 12 April 1991 and concluded in November 1995.  The Kuwait Liberation Medal was approved on 3 January 1992 and is awarded to those members who participated in the Persian Gulf War from 17 January to 28 February 1991.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms the applicant is entitled to the Kuwait Liberation Medal and award of the two bronze service star denoting participation in two designated campaign periods during the Gulf War.

2.  It appears that when the applicant’s DD Form 214 was typed the form was off line when it printed.  As such several items on the separation report are unreadable because the typed entries overlap the printed items on the form.  Issuance of a new DD Form 214 would be appropriate.

3.  In view of the foregoing, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:

	a.  by showing the individual concerned is entitled to the Kuwait Liberation Medal and two bronze service stars denoting participation in two designated campaign periods during the Gulf War; and

	b.  by reissuing the individual’s DD Form 214 in order to provide him with a legible copy.

BOARD VOTE:  

                       GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

                       GRANT FORMAL HEARING

                       DENY APPLICATION




		                           
		        CHAIRPERSON