BOARD DATE: 21 April 2011 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20100025761 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 correction of his Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show his date of birth as 11 June 1936. 2. The applicant states his date of birth was entered incorrectly on his DD Form 214. 3. The applicant provides copies of his birth certificate and a certified copy of his record of discharge as recorded in the county courthouse. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant’s failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing. 2. The applicant's military records are not available for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service member's records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. It is believed that his records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, the documents provided by the applicant are sufficient to conduct a fair and impartial review of this specific request. 3. The applicant's certificate of birth, issued on 6 October 2010, shows he was born on 11 June 1936. 4. The applicant's DD Form 214 shows his date of birth as 9 June 1936. 5. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), then in effect, provided detailed instructions for completing separation documents, including the DD Form 214. It provided that the Soldier's date of birth would be entered in Item 6 of the DD Form 214. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The Army has an interest in maintaining the accuracy of its records. Since the applicant's records are not available, it must be presumed that the data and information contained on his DD Form 214 reflects the conditions and circumstances that existed at the time the records were created. 2. The applicant is advised that a copy of this decisional document along with his application and the supporting documents that he provided will be filed in his Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). This should serve to clarify any questions or confusion regarding the date of birth he used while on active duty and satisfy the applicant's desire to have the birth date that is shown on his birth certificate included in his OMPF. 3. In view of the above, the applicant’s request should be denied. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ___x_ ___x_____ ____x____ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. _______ _ x _______ ___ 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) AR20100025761 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100025761 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1