RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:	  


	BOARD DATE:	  22 February 2007
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20060009893 


	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.


	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, in effect, that the first name recorded in his military records be changed from Evester to Vester.   

2.  The applicant essentially states that the first name recorded in his military records does not match his birth certificate. 

3.  The applicant provides his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) that was issued at the time of his release from active duty on 7 October 1970, his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation From Active Duty) issued at the time of his discharge on 6 February 1976, a copy of his driver’s license, and a birth registration card, dated 31 August 1984, in support of this application. 

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant is requesting correction of an alleged error which occurred on 
6 February 1976, the date of his discharge from the Regular Army.  The application submitted in this case is dated 5 July 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.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 26 February 1969, and served on active duty until he was released from active duty on 7 October 1970.  He was a member of the United States Army Reserve until he enlisted in the Regular Army on 7 February 1973, and served a 3-year enlistment which ended when he was honorably discharged on 6 February 1976.  The applicant’s induction record and enlistment record, the personnel records prepared on him upon his entries on active duty, and all orders and documents on file in his military records all contain the same first name, Evester, which is the first name under which he performed all his military service.  

4.  The DD Forms 214 issued to and authenticated by the applicant with his signature on the both his release from active duty on 7 October 1970, and his discharge on 6 February 1976, show that the first name recorded on these documents is the same one recorded in his induction documents, enlistment documents, complete personnel record, and under which he served throughout his active duty tenure.  The applicant authenticated both of these documents with his signature, and his signature contained the first name Evester, which is consistent with all his other military records and with the signature he used throughout his military service tenure.  

5.  The applicant provides a copy of his driver’s license, which lists his birth name as Vester.  He also provided a birth registration card, dated 31 August 1984, which lists his birth first name as Vester.  However, he provides no explanation as to why he chose to use the first name Evester during his military service.  

6.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) prescribes the separation documents that must be prepared for soldiers on retirement, discharge, release from active duty service, or control of the active Army.  Chapter 2 contains guidance on the preparation and distribution of the DD Form 214.  Paragraph 2-4 contains item by item instructions for completion of the DD Form 214 and it states, in pertinent part, that Item 1 will contain the name taken from the soldier’s personnel record.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant contends that the first name recorded in his military records should be changed from Evester to Vester.   

2.  The Board notes and understands the applicant’s desire to have the first name recorded in his military records changed to his birth first name.  However, there is no evidence of record or independent evidence that suggests the first name recorded in his military records exhibits a material error or injustice.

3.  The applicant was inducted and later enlisted, served, and was honorably separated from the Army under the preferred first name he used for his military records.  The Board finds the fact that he now, more than 30 years after his separation, desires to have the first name recorded in his military records changed to his birth first name is not a sufficiently mitigating factor that warrants granting this requested relief. 


4.  The Board finds no evidence that suggests that the applicant has or would suffer any injury or injustice as a result of the Army maintaining its records with the first name under which he served.  The Army has an interest in maintaining the accuracy of its records.  The data and information contained in those records should reflect the conditions and circumstances that existed at the time the records were created.  While the Board understands the applicant’s desire to now record his birth first name in his military records, it does not find that this is a sufficiently compelling reason for compromising the integrity of the Army’s records at this late date.  

5.  The Board wishes to advise the applicant that a copy of this decisional document along with his application and the supporting evidence he provided, which confirms his birth first name, will be filed in his Official Military Personnel File (OMPF).  This should serve to clarify any questions or confusion in regard to the difference in the name recorded in his military record and satisfy his desire to have his birth name documented in his OMPF. 

6.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

7.  Records show the applicant should have discovered the alleged error or injustice now under consideration on 6 February 1976; therefore, the time for the applicant to file a request for correction of any error or injustice expired on 
5 February 1979.  The applicant did not file within the 3-year statute of limitations and has not provided a compelling explanation or evidence to show that it would be in the interest of justice to excuse failure to timely file in this case.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

___MM __  ___JM __  ___QS__  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

1.  The Board determined that 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.
2.  As a result, the Board further determined that there is no evidence provided which shows that it would be in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file this application within the 3-year statute of limitations prescribed by law.  Therefore, there is insufficient basis to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing or for correction of the records of the individual concerned.




______Mark Manning________
          CHAIRPERSON




INDEX

CASE ID
AR20060009893
SUFFIX

RECON
YYYYMMDD
DATE BOARDED
20070222
TYPE OF DISCHARGE
(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)
DATE OF DISCHARGE
YYYYMMDD
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY
AR . . . . .  
DISCHARGE REASON

BOARD DECISION
DENY
REVIEW AUTHORITY
AR 15-185
ISSUES         1.
100.0100.0000
2.

3.

4.

5.

6.