PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:           

	BOARD DATE:              3 June 2003
	DOCKET NUMBER:      AR2002081143

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

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Beverly A. Young		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Joann Langston		Chairperson	
	Ms. Jennifer L. Prater		Member	
	Mr. Paul M. Smith		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

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

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests, in effect, that her DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected to show the Army Commendation Medal and Letters of Recommendation.  She also requests that her DD Form 214 be corrected to show injuries she sustained at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.

3.  The applicant states that she would like these items documented on her DD Form 214.  She did not submit the documents in support of her application.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that she enlisted in the Regular Army on 20 July 1965 for a period of three years.  She successfully completed basic and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupational specialty 74E (APDS Console Operator).  The applicant was honorably discharged from active duty by reason of completing her expiration term of service on 19 July 1968 in the rank of specialist five.  

5.  The applicant's DD Form 214 does not show entitlement to the Army Commendation Medal or Letters of Recommendation.  Her DD Form 214 does not show separation for disabilities or injuries.  Her DD Form 214 shows she was awarded only the National Defense Service Medal.

6.  There are no orders in the applicant’s records which show that she was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and there is no evidence that she was recommended for award of the Army Commendation Medal.  Her DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) does not list the Army Commendation Medal in item 41 (Awards and Decorations).  

7.  The applicant's service personnel records contain Headquarters, Walter Reed Army Medical Center General Order Number 41, dated 6 July 1968, which awarded her the Good Conduct Medal for the period 20 July 1965 through 19 July 1968.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Army Commendation Medal may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.  As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.

9.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) provides that item 13 of the DD Form 214 will reflect decorations, medals, badges, citations and campaign ribbons awarded or authorized for all periods of service.  Certificates of Achievement, Letters of Appreciation, and similar documents are not recorded on the DD Form 214.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There is no evidence of record, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows she was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.  Therefore, there is no basis for correcting her records to show award of the Army Commendation Medal.

2.  The Board noted the applicant's request for correction of her records to show Letters of Recommendation.  Army Regulation 635-5 states, in pertinent part, that Certificates of Achievement, Letters of Appreciation, and similar documents are not recorded on the DD Form 214.  Therefore, there is no basis for granting this portion of the applicant's request.

3.  The Board considered the applicant's contention that she was injured while assigned to Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. However, there is no evidence of record available to the Board which shows that the applicant was injured at these duty stations.  In addition, unless the reason for separation is physical disability, there are no regulatory provisions for recording evidence of injuries on the DD Form 214.  Therefore, there is no basis for granting her request.

4.  Orders show the applicant was awarded the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 20 July 1965 through 19 July 1968.  Therefore, her DD Form 214 will be corrected to show this award.

5.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing the individual concerned was awarded the Good Conduct Medal.

2.  That so much of the application as it relates to the Army Commendation Medal and Letters of Recommendation and correction of her DD Form 214 to show injuries she sustained at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Fort Monmouth, New Jersey be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

JL______  JLP_____  PMS____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Joann Langston________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002081143	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20030603	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT IN PART	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	Mr. Schneider	
ISSUES         1.	107.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.