IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 10 April 2012
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20110019571
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 replacement of the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) he received (in effect, that the ARCOM be added to his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge).
2. He states the ARCOM was recommended by a captain while he was in Vietnam and he received the medal. He was not aware his medals, which were lost due to his basement flooding, could be replaced.
3. He does not provide any additional evidence.
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 applicants 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 applicants failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing.
2. The applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 22 May 1968. He served in Vietnam from 20 July 1969 to 15 April 1970. He served
1 year, 10 months, and 14 days and was honorably released from active duty on 15 April 1970.
3. His DD Form 214 does not show the ARCOM.
4. There are no orders in his military personnel record that show he was awarded the ARCOM. Additionally, the ARCOM is not listed on his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record).
5. A review of the Awards and Decorations Computer-Assisted Retrieval System, an index of general orders issued during the Vietnam era between 1965 and 1973 maintained by the Military Awards Branch of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, failed to reveal any orders for the ARCOM pertaining to the applicant.
6. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides that the ARCOM may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service. As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
The applicant's contention that he was awarded the ARCOM is acknowledged; however, there is no official documentation showing he received this award. In the absence of such evidence, there is no basis for granting his request.
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) AR20110019571
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20110019571
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