MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           3 December 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002076156

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Nancy L. Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Mr. James E. Anderholm		Member	
	Ms. Charmane Collins		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That his Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, DD Form 214, be corrected to show his middle name as "Richard."

APPLICANT STATES:  That his DD Form 214 shows his middle name as "Arthur" and it should be "Richard."  He provides his DD Form 214, his birth certificate, and a copy of his Social Security card as supporting evidence.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records show:

He was inducted into the Army on 15 June 1965 under the name M___ Arthur B___.  All documents in his records, including his Statement of Personal History, DD Form 398 (which he completed on 7 March 1967), and his Enlisted Qualification Record, DA Form 20 (which he reviewed on 7 March 1967), show either his middle name as "Arthur" or his middle initial as "A."

The applicant's DD Form 214 shows that he was released from active duty on    14 June 1967 under the name of M___ Arthur B___.

The applicant's birth certificate and Social Security card show his middle name as "Richard."

Army Regulation 635-5 prescribes the separation documents prepared for soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army.  It establishes standardized policy for the preparation of the DD Form 214.  In pertinent part it states that the DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the soldier’s most recent period of continuous active duty.  It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active Army service at the time of release from active duty, retirement or discharge.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  For historical purposes, the Army has an interest in maintaining the accuracy of its records.  The data and information contained in those records should actually reflect the conditions and circumstances that existed at the time the records were created.  In the absence of a showing of material error or injustice, this Board is reluctant to recommend that those records be changed.

2.  Although the applicant’s birth certificate and Social Security card show his middle name as "Richard," he appropriately served on and was released from active duty with the middle name "Arthur."  While the Board understands the applicant’s desire to have the records changed, it finds no basis for compromising the integrity of the Army’s records.  This Board action will be filed in his military records so a record of his middle name as recorded on his birth certificate will be on hand.

3.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__ FNE  _  __JEA___  ___CC__  DENY APPLICATION

		    Carl W. S. Chun
		    Director, Army Board for Correction
    of Military Records

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002076156	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	2002/12/03	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	100.01	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.