1. The applicant states that he was sent home in June of 1971 from a hospital and informed that he would be sent his DD Form 214. The Army never contacted him. He feels he is entitled to correction of his military records to reflect the fact he was on active duty until 28 February 1996 and that he was retired from the Army.
2. The applicants military records show that he was born on 5 June 1949. He was inducted into the Army on 23 June 1969 for 2 years. He served in Vietnam from 15 December 1969 until 14 November 1970. While there he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal with V device.
3. Apparently, the applicant departed Vietnam on 14 November 1970 with an ultimate of assignment to Fort Benning, GA with a reporting date of 23 December 1970. He was authorized 30 days leave enroute and while on leave he was admitted to an Air Force hospital. While in the hospital a military policeman (MP) from an AWOL Apprehension Team told him he was absent without leave (AWOL). The applicant showed him his DA Form 31; the MP later told him he was discharged, to go home after he got out of the hospital and his discharge would be mailed to him. For 25 years the applicant attempted to obtain a copy of his DD Form 214 through the VA. Finally, he was told he was AWOL and to report to the personnel confinement facility at Fort Sill, OK to be outprocessed.
4. Fort Sill explained his case to the Department of the Army Separations and Appeals Branch. The Branch said that at the time, a 180-day rule allowed a soldier returning from Vietnam who as within 180 days of his expiration term of service (ETS) to receive an early ETS; therefore, Fort Sill should prepare his discharge papers and backdate them to 22 June 1971.
5. On 28 February 1996, separation orders and a DD Form 214 were issued to the applicant. He was honorably discharged effective 22 June 1971, for completion of required active service, in pay grade E-3. His DD Form 214 erroneously shows he had 2 years and 18 days of creditable active service, with no days lost.
6. On 29 February 1996, the Department of Veterans Affairs granted him a disability rating of 100% for service connected post-traumatic stress disorder.
7. Title 38, U. S. Code, sections 310 and 331, permits the VA to award compensation for a medical condition which was incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The VA, however, is not required by law to determine medical unfitness for further military service. The VA, in accordance with its own policies and regulations, awards compensation solely on the basis that a medical condition exists and that said medical condition reduces or impairs the social or industrial adaptability of the individual concerned. Consequently, due to the two concepts involved, an individuals medical condition, although not considered medically unfitting for military service at the time of processing for separation, discharge or retirement, may be sufficient to qualify the individual for VA benefits based on an evaluation by that agency.
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. In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust. The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy the aforementioned requirement.
2. Although administrative negligence on the part of the Army caused the delay in issuance of the DD Form 214, the applicant was effectively out from under military control in or around December 1970. Had his discharge been effective in February 1996, he would have been charged with 25 years of AWOL, still not have been eligible for retirement and would have forfeited his honorable discharge.
3. If the late issuance of the DD Form 214 caused the applicant to miss out on any monetary benefits from the VA, he is advised that he must attempt to work through the VA for resolution.
4. However, there are three minor errors on the applicants DD Form 214.
5. In view of the foregoing, it would be appropriate to correct the applicants records as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. That the applicants DD Form 214, blocks 12a, 12b and 12f be corrected to show he entered active duty 1969 06 23; his net active service was 0002 years 0000 months and 0000 days; and his foreign service was 0000 years 0011 months and 0000 days, respectively.
2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
GRANT
GRANT FORMAL HEARING
DENY APPLICATION
CHAIRPERSON
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