RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2006-03148
INDEX CODE: 100.00
COUNSEL: VSO
HEARING DESIRED: NO
MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE: 15 APR 08
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
The AAF Regional Hospital Certificate dated 22 May 1946 be declared void
and removed from his records.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He believes the diagnosis (mental deficiency, moron, mental age nine years
old) is an incorrect and slanderous diagnosis and statement.
In support of his request, the applicant provided a personal statement and
documentation extracted from his military personnel record.
His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
Applicant entered active duty on 29 November 1945. He served as a duty
soldier.
On 22 May 1946, applicant was seen by a neuropsychiatrist who diagnosed him
with “mental deficiency, moron, mental age 9 years (Wechsler Army Mental
Abilities Scale).”
On 27 June 1946, applicant was honorably discharged in the grade of private
under the provisions of AR 615-369 (Inaptness, Lack of Required Degree of
Adaptability or Enuresis). He served 6 months and 29 days of continental
service.
A Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) psychological evaluation of September
2001 revealed a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (childhood),
reported head trauma, reading disorder, communication disorder, and
dysthymia.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
The AFBCMR Medical Consultant recommends the references to “moron” be
deleted. The Medical Consultant states “moron” was originally a scientific
term, used to describe a person with a mental age between 8 and 12. It was
also once applied to people with an IQ of 51-70. The word moron was once
considered a valid descriptor in the psychological community but has now
passed into common slang use, exclusively in a detrimental context and is
no longer used by the psychological community in assessing mental
abilities.
The applicant appears to have had some degree of learning difficulties,
perhaps due on a suboptimal childhood environment but, based on his
successful career as an electrical worker and observations of medical
providers, does not appear to have an IQ in the 51-70 intelligence range.
The preponderance of evidence of record shows that the applicant’s
psychological assessment may have been appropriate at the time. However,
further observation and changing psychological standards over the
intervening years makes the label “moron” invalid and unkind today.
Medical Consultant’s complete evaluation is at Exhibit C.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
On 6 August 2007, the evaluation was forwarded to the applicant for review
and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). As of this date, this office has
received no response.
_________________________________________________________________
THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:
1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or
regulations.
2. The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the interest
of justice to excuse the failure to timely file.
3. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the
existence of an error or injustice. In this respect, it appears that the
term “moron” may have been an acceptable term during the time period.
However, its use has evolved into a term that is inappropriate for use as a
medical term under today’s standards. Therefore, it is our opinion that it
would be an injustice for the applicant to continue to endure its adverse
effects and recommend that any documentation reflecting the word “moron”
contained in his military records be removed. Accordingly, we recommend
the applicant’s records be corrected to the extent indicated below.
_________________________________________________________________
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:
The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that any and all
documentation containing the word “moron” be expunged from his records.
_________________________________________________________________
The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2006-
03148 in Executive Session on 30 October 2007, under the provisions of AFI
36-2603:
Mr. Jay H. Jordan, Panel Chair
Mr. Garry G. Sauner, Member
Mr. Joseph D. Yount, Member
All members voted to correct the records. The following documentary
evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 2 March 2006, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant,
dated 6 August 2007.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 August 2007.
JAY H. JORDAN
Panel Chair
AFBCMR BC-2006-03148
MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF
Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force
Board for Correction of Military Records and under the authority of Section
1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A Stat 116), it is directed that:
The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force
relating to XXX, be corrected to show that any and all documentation
containing the word “moron” be, and hereby are, expunged from his
records.
JOE G. LINEBERGER
Director
Air Force Review Boards Agency
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