IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 07 AUGUST 2008 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20080010189 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests that his DD Form 214 be corrected to reflect the fourth award of the Meritorious Service Medal and that he be awarded service stars for wear on his Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM). 2. The applicant states that his last award of the MSM was not included on his DD Form 214 and his award of the ICM does not reflect any bronze service stars. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his MSM orders and citation. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 18 November 1987 for a period of 4 years. He remained on active duty as a unit supply specialist through a series of continuous reenlistments and was promoted to the pay grade of E-7 on 1 February 1999. 2. On 23 April 2006, the applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) for meritorious service during the period from 20 August 2005 to 20 February 2006 while serving with the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment during Operation Iraqi Freedom. 3. On 22 February 2008, the applicant was awarded the MSM for the period of 1 August 1998 to 31 July 2008. 4. On 31 July 2008, he was honorably released from active duty (REFRAD) and was placed on the Retired List effective 1 August 2008. His DD 214 issued at the time of his REFRAD reflects that he was awarded the MSM (3rd award) and the Iraq Campaign Medal. 5. A review of the applicant’s Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) shows that he was previously awarded three awards of the MSM for the periods of service from 1992 to 1996, from 1999 to 2001 and from 2001 to 2004. Although there is no evidence in his OMPF to indicate exactly what dates the applicant served in Iraq, records show that the applicant was awarded the BSM for his service in Iraq from 20 August 2005 to 20 February 2006. 6. Military Awards Branch Message [dated 8 April 2005] provided the following implementing instructions for award of the Iraq Campaign Medal. Award of the Iraq Campaign Medal is authorized for service in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from on or after 19 March 2003 to a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense or the cessation of the operation. The area of eligibility encompasses all land area of the country of Iraq and the contiguous sea area out to 12 nautical miles and the air space above these areas. To qualify for award of this campaign medal, service members must have been assigned or attached to or mobilized with units operating in these areas of eligibility for 30 consecutive days or for 60 non-consecutive days or meet one of the following criteria: a) be engaged in combat during an armed engagement, regardless of the time in the area of eligibility; b) be medically evacuated from the area of eligibility for wounds or injuries resulting from participation in an operation or official duties; or c) participates as a regularly assigned air crewmember flying sorties into, out of, within or over the area of eligibility in direct support of the military operations [each day of operations counts as one day of eligibility]. Only one award of the Iraq Campaign Medal may be authorized for any individual. One bronze service star is authorized for each campaign in which an individual participates. The campaigns listed include the LIBERATION of IRAQ – 19 March 2003 to 1 May 2003, TRANSITION of IRAQ - 2 May 2003 to 28 June 2004, IRAQ GOVERNANCE – 29 June 2004 to 15 December 2005, and NATIONAL RESOLUTION – 16 December 2006 to a date to be determined. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant’s contentions have been noted and found to have merit. The applicant was awarded four awards of the MSM and he served in two campaigns while in Iraq. 2. Accordingly, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to reflect the MSM (4th award) and the Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars. BOARD VOTE: __XXX __ __XXX__ __XXX__ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by showing that he was awarded the MSM (4th award) and the Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars in lieu of the MSM (3rd award) and the Iraq Campaign Medal as currently reflected on his records. 2. The Board wants the applicant and all others to know that the sacrifices he made in service to the United States during the Global War on Terrorism are deeply appreciated. The applicant and all Americans should be justifiably proud of his service in arms. ___ XXX ___ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080010189 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080010189 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1