RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


      IN THE CASE OF:


      BOARD DATE:        12 September 2006
      DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20060001562


      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             |
|     |Mr. Karl L. Briales               |     |Analyst              |

      The following members, a quorum, were present:

|     |Mr. Allen L. Raub                 |     |Chairperson          |
|     |Ms. Linda M. Barker               |     |Member               |
|     |Mr. Qawly A. Sabree               |     |Member               |

      The Board considered the following evidence:

      Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records.

      Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including advisory opinion,
if any).

THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant requests that his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from
the Armed Forces of the United States) be corrected:  to show all awards,
decorations and medals he is authorized; all service schools he completed;
and that he was assigned to the 6th Ranger Company.

2.  The applicant specifically requests the National Defense Service Medal
(NSDM), Good Conduct Medal (GCMDL), Army of Occupation Medal (AOM) for
service in Germany, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal, the
Parachutist Badge, the Glider Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB),
and the Ranger Tab.  Additionally, he would like his records to reflect
that he completed the "Auto Maintenance and Supervision Course."

3.  The applicant states that most of the awards, decorations and medals he
received, and schools he attended are not annotated on his discharge
document. He states he attends reunions of his old unit – 6th Ranger
Company – and it creates problems when old comrades-in-arms see "627th QM
Refrig Co" on his DD Form 214.

4.  The applicant provides:

      a.  A letter, dated 16 February 2006, to the Commander, US Army
Reserve Personnel Center (USARPERCEN).

      b.  DD Form 214 ((Report of Separation From The Armed Forces of The
United States) with a separation date of 7 September 1952.

      c.  Certificate of Completion for Basic Airborne Course.

      d.  Certificate of Completion for Ranger Training Course.

      e.  Photocopy of graduation pictures.

      f.  Document entitled "Appendix 1, The Sixth Ranger Company
(Airborne), 26 January 1951."

      g.  Document entitled "Appendix 3, Infantry."

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant is requesting correction of an alleged error or injustice
which occurred on 7 September 1952.  The application submitted in this case
is dated 18 January 2006.

2.  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 allows the Army
Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse failure to file
within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines that it
would be in the interest of justice to do so.  In this case, the ABCMR will
conduct a review of the merits of the case to determine if it would be in
the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file.

3.  Records show the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army for 3 years on
21 September 1949 for training as a parachute infantryman.  He was
originally assigned to the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry, 10th Infantry
Division, Fort Riley, KS. In April 1950, he was transferred to Fort
Benning, GA for airborne training.  He successfully completed all training
and was deemed a qualified parachutist and gliderman on 12 May 1950.  He
was awarded the Parachutist Badge and the Glider Badge by Special Order.

4.  Records show the applicant was assigned to a series of infantry units.
He was assigned to Company I, 504th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd
Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC from May 1950 to September 1950.  He was
then assigned to the 6th Ranger Company, Fort Benning in September 1950.
He remained with this unit and was awarded the Ranger Tab as a result of on-
the-job training.  The unit deployed to Germany during the applicant's
period of assignment.

5.  The applicant developed hearing loss and was hospitalized in Germany in
July 1951.  He was subsequently evacuated to the United States where he
underwent treatment at Percy Jones Army Hospital, Battle Creek, MI and was
subsequently reassigned to Fort Lee, VA and the 627th Quartermaster
Refrigeration Company.  At that time, his Branch of Service was changed
from Infantry to Quartermaster, and his military occupational specialty
(MOS) was changed from Light Weapons Infantryman to General Utilities
Repairman.

6.  The applicant was seen at the Station Hospital at Fort Lee for ear
problems and hearing loss.  He was ultimately transferred back to Percy
Jones Army Hospital where he underwent physical disability processing.  He
was determined to be physically unfit and was honorably discharged by
reason of physical disability with severance pay on 7 September 1952.

7.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 24A (Service Record) shows that he had
excellent conduct and efficiency ratings and that he was routinely
recommended for award of the Good Conduct Medal by his commanders.  There
is no reference in the Service Record to the applicant ever having been
tested for, or awarded, the Expert Infantryman Badge.

8.  The applicant's DD Form 214 shows:

      a.  He enlisted and served in the Regular Army from 21 September 1949
to 7 September 1952, a period of 2 years, 11 months, and 17 days.  His
Branch of Service was Quartermaster Corps (QMC).

      b.  He entered the Army as a Recruit (E-1) and was discharged as a
Private First Class (E-3).

      c.  He served in military occupational specialty (MOS) 4121 (General
Utilities Repairman) and his most significant unit of assignment was with
the 627th Quartermaster Refrigeration Company.

      d.  He served 6 months and 10 days in Germany.

      e.  He was awarded the Parachute Glider Badge (sic) and the "Occ
(sic) Medal (Germany)."

      f.  He successfully completed the service school-level Automotive
Maintenance and Supervision Course at Fort Benning, GA from July to October
1950.  He did not undertake any installation-level training courses (e.g.,
correspondence, filing, etc.).

9.  Army Regulation (AR) 600-8-22 (Military Awards) sets forth Department
of the Army criteria, policy and instructions concerning individual
military awards, the Good Conduct Medal, service medals and service
ribbons, combat and special skill badges and tabs, unit decorations, and
trophies and similar devices awarded in recognition of accomplishments.  It
provides:

      a.  The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) is awarded for
honorable active service for any period between 27 June 1950 and 27 July
1954, between 1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974, between 2 August 1990 and
30 November 1995, and between 11 September 2001 and a closing date to be
determined.

      b.  The Good Conduct Medal (GCMDL) is awarded to individuals who
distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a
qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  This period is 3 years
except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the
termination of a period of Federal military service.  Old versions of the
regulation provided that, on or after 27 June 1950, the GCMDL, for the
first award only, was awarded upon termination of service of less than 3
years, but more than 1 year.  At that time, a Soldier's conduct and
efficiency ratings must have been rated as "excellent" for the entire
period of qualifying service and there must have been no convictions by
court-martial.

      c.  Award of the basic Parachutist Badge requires that an individual
must have satisfactorily completed the prescribed proficiency tests while
assigned or attached to an airborne unit or the Airborne Department of the
Infantry School at Fort Benning, or have participated in at least one
combat parachute jump.

      d.  Award of the Glider Badge was discontinued effective 3 May 1961.
Prior to that date, the regulation authorized wear of the Glider Badge if
the individual met the eligibility requirements then in effect, such as
when it could be established by means of sufficient documentation that the
proficiency tests then prescribed were satisfactorily completed while the
individual was assigned or attached to an airborne unit, or to the Airborne
Department of the Infantry School at Fort Benning, or by participating in
at least one combat glider landing into enemy-held territory as a member of
an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission for which the
unit was credited with an airborne assault landing by the theater
commander.

      e.  Award of the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB) requires that a
Soldier must have satisfactorily completed the prescribed proficiency tests
while assigned or attached to an infantry unit of at least battalion size.
To be eligible for testing and award of the EIB, a Soldier must have been
in an active Army status and must have had an infantry or special forces
MOS.

      f.  The Ranger Tab is awarded for successful completion of a Ranger
Course conducted by the U.S. Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, or the
Ranger Training Command, or award of the Combat Infantryman Badge while
serving in World War II as a member of a Ranger Battalion (1st to 6th
inclusive) or in the 5307th Composite Unit (Merrill’s Marauders).

10.  The NATO Medal is an international military decoration which is
awarded to various militaries of the world under the authority of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization. There are currently nine versions of the NATO
Medal in existence, the earliest being for service in the former Republic
of Yugoslavia from 1 July 1992 through 12 October 1998.

11.  The 6th Ranger Company traces its lineage from the 2nd Ranger
Battalion constituted in the Army of the United States on 11 March 1943 and
activated on 1 April 1943 at Camp Forrest, TN.  The unit was inactivated on
23 October 1945 at Camp Patrick Henry, VA.  The unit was redesignated on 29
July 1949 as the 2d Infantry Battalion and activated on 15 September 1949
in the Panama Canal Zone.  On 4 January 1950 in the Canal Zone, it was
again inactivated and Company B was redesignated as the 6th Ranger Infantry
Company (Ranger Training Command) on 2 November 1950, allotted to the
Regular Army and activated on 20 November 1950 at Fort Benning, GA.  The
6th Ranger Company was inactivated in Germany a year later on 1 December
1951.

12.  Army Special Regulation (SR) 615-360-1 (Separation of Enlisted
Personnel) prescribes the separation documents that must be prepared for
Soldiers on retirement, discharge, release from active duty service, or
control of the Active Army.  It establishes standardized policy for
preparing and distributing the DD Form 214.  The regulation in effect at
the time of the applicant's discharge specified that Item 30 of the DD Form
214 would indicate service-level schools successfully completed.  Item 31
would indicate installation-level training, correspondence courses, and off-
duty courses successfully completed.  It also specified that the "last
unit...to which assigned for duty" will be entered in item 28 (Most
Significant Duty Assignment).  It also states that "[units] of which an
individual was a part while moving to a separation point" will not be
listed.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant requests his records be corrected to show award of the
National Defense Service Medal (NSDM), Good Conduct Medal (GCMDL), Army of
Occupation Medal (AOM) for service in Germany, North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) Medal, the Parachutist Badge, the Glider Badge, the
Expert
Infantryman Badge (EIB), and the Ranger Tab.  Additionally, he would like
his records to reflect that he completed the Auto Maintenance and
Supervision Course and his most significant assignment was with the 6th
Ranger Company.

2.  The applicant served during a period of time during which the NDSM was
authorized.  Therefore, he is entitled to award of that medal.

3.  The applicant served from 21 September 1949 to 7 September 1952, a
period of 2 years, 11 months, and 17 days.  He had excellent conduct and
efficiency and his commanders recommended him for award of the GCMDL;
therefore, he is entitled to award of that medal.

4.  The applicant's DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the "Occ Medal
(Germany)."  This is actually the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany
Clasp. His record should be corrected to reflect the proper name of that
award.

5.  The applicant's DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the "Parachute Glider
Badge."  There is no such badge; he is actually entitled to award of the
Parachutist Badge and the Glider Badge.  His record should be corrected to
reflect these badges.

6.  The applicant is entitled to award of the Ranger Tab based upon his
Certificate of Training issued by the US Army Infantry School showing he
successfully completed Ranger Training with the 6th Ranger Company.  His
record should be corrected to show this tab.

7.  The applicant does not qualify for the NATO Medal.  This international
military decoration was not authorized until 1 July 1992, well after the
applicant's period of service.

8.  There is no evidence available to show the applicant successfully
completed testing for the Expert Infantryman Badge.  Without such evidence,
entitlement to the EIB cannot be established.


9.  It appears the applicant is misinterpreting his DD Form 214 relative to
Items 30 and 31.  Item 30 is used to identify service-level courses
successfully completed.  Item 30 shows the "Auto Maint & Supervision"
Course.  The entry "None" in Item 31 only refers to installation-level
courses such as typing, filing, etc.  Therefore, the applicant is already
credited with successful completion of the Automotive Maintenance and
Supervision Course.

10.  The applicant's DD Form 214 lists his most significant duty assignment
as the 627th Quartermaster Refrigeration Company; however, based upon the
evidence of record, it is known that he was a Light Weapons Infantryman.
He completed parachute and glider training in May 1950 and was assigned to
the 504th Airborne Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC.
Later, he was transferred to Fort Benning and assigned to the 6th Ranger
Company where he underwent training with that unit and deployment to
Germany.  He was awarded the coveted Ranger Tab by the 6th Ranger Company.
It appears he was assigned to the 627th Quartermaster Refrigeration Company
at Fort Lee only after he became disabled as a result of a hearing loss and
was winding his way through the disability processing system.  As a matter
of personal pride, the applicant associates with the 6th Ranger Company as
his "most significant duty assignment" and would like Item 28 changed.
Assuming he was only in a Quartermaster unit because of his medical
misfortune, Item 28 should reflect his Airborne Ranger heritage.

11.  Records show the applicant should have discovered the alleged error or
injustice now under consideration on 7 September 1952; therefore, the time
for the applicant to file a request for correction of any error or
injustice expired on
6 September 1955.  Although the applicant did not file within the ABCMR’s
statute of limitations, it is appropriate to waive failure to timely file
based on the relief being granted.

BOARD VOTE:

__alr___  __lmb___  __qas___  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 partial relief and to excuse failure to timely
file.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army
records of the individual concerned be corrected by:

      a.  Awarding the applicant the National Defense Service Medal and the
Good Conduct Medal for the period 21 September 1949 to 7 September 1952.

      b.  Deleting from Item 27 of his DD Form 214 the "Occ Medal
(Germany)."

      c.  Deleting from Item 4 of his DD Form 214 the entry "RA QMC."

      d.  Deleting from Item 28 of his DD Form 214 the entry "627th QM
Refrig Co."

      e.  Adding to Item 4 of his DD Form 214 the entry "RA INF."

      f.  Adding to Item 27 of his DD Form 214 the Good Conduct Medal, the
National Defense Service Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany
Clasp), the Parachutist Badge, the Glider Badge, and the Ranger Tab.

      g.  Adding to Item 28 of his DD Form 214 the entry "6th Ranger Co."

2.  The Board further determined that the evidence presented is
insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief.  As a result,
the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to
the NATO Medal, the Expert Infantryman Badge, or change to Item 30 (Service
Schools) and Item 31 (Training Courses).



                                  Allen L. Raub
                            ______________________
                                      CHAIRPERSON



                                    INDEX

|CASE ID                 |AR20060001562                           |
|SUFFIX                  |                                        |
|RECON                   |                                        |
|DATE BOARDED            |20060912                                |
|TYPE OF DISCHARGE       |                                        |
|DATE OF DISCHARGE       |                                        |
|DISCHARGE AUTHORITY     |                                        |
|DISCHARGE REASON        |                                        |
|BOARD DECISION          |GRANT                                   |
|REVIEW AUTHORITY        |                                        |
|ISSUES         1.       |107.0069                                |
|2.                      |107.0056                                |
|3.                      |107.0119                                |
|4.                      |107.0120                                |
|5.                      |                                        |
|6.                      |                                        |


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