IN THE CASE OF:	

		BOARD DATE:	  22 January 2013

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20120011603 


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 reconsideration of his earlier request for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. 

2.  The applicant states:

* During military service, he deployed to multiple areas including Grenada, the Middle East, and Central America in support of various military operations
* Although he arrived in Grenada too late to qualify for this medal, he believes he served another qualifying period for this award
* As a finance and contracting officer as well as a Class A agent, he supported multiple units including special forces units
* He participated in "CABANAS 86" which was a deployment of the 27th Airborne Engineer Battalion for Fort Bragg, NC to build an air strip in the southeast corner of Honduras near the El Salvador border
* The airstrip was used to rapidly insert U.S. ground forces if needed 
* The exercise meets the criteria for this award in that U.S. forces deployed in great numbers and with live ammunition, hostile action was imminent but did not materialize, and U.S. forces assisted a friendly nation
* The exercise is not listed in Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) because Congress cut off funding
* He does not know if the Board is authorized to award him the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for an operation not listed in Army Regulation 600-8-22
* He attended a ceremony wherein an award of the Purple Heart was awarded 35 years later to a Soldier who was in Cambodia during the Vietnam War despite his unit not being authorized to be in Cambodia
* It is important to recognize duty regardless of the politics

3.  The applicant provides:

* An extract from "Wikipedia" regarding the "Contras"
* A Department of the Army Summary of Cabanas 86
* A news article regarding U.S. Army engineers in Honduras
* An internet article regarding a Nicaraguan incursion into Honduras
* A DD Form 1610 (Request and Authorization for Temporary Duty (TDY) Travel of DOD Personnel)
* A DD Form 1351-2 (Travel Voucher or Sub-Voucher)
* Photographs
* A DA Form 67-8 (U.S. Army Officer Evaluation Report)
* A DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty)
* A legislative chronology regarding support or restrictions of military activities in Nicaragua

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20110000044, on 19 July 2011.

2.  The applicant provides a new argument which was not previously considered; therefore, it is new evidence and as such warrants consideration by the Board.

3.  The applicant's records show he was appointed as a Regular Army officer and executed an oath of office on 25 August 1972.  He served in a variety of stateside or overseas assignments, including Korea from October 1975 to November 1976, and he attained the rank of lieutenant colonel (LTC).

4.  His DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record), Item 35 (Record of Assignments), shows he was assigned to Fort Bragg on 28 February 1984.  

5.  He was honorably retired on 31 August 1992 and he was placed on the Retired List in his retired rank of LTC on 1 September 1992.  His DD Form 214 does not show the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

6.  He submitted:
	a.  Multiple photographs as well as internet and/or newsletter articles regarding U.S. involvement in Central America during the mid 1980s and early 1990s.  

	b.  A DA Form 67-8 for the rating period 1 July 1985 through 30 June 1986 which shows he participated in various training exercises including Bright Star and CABANAS.  

	c.  A DD Form 1610, dated 18 April 1986, authorizing him travel from Fort Bragg, NC, to Honduras and return for a period of 8 days beginning on or about 23 April 1986.  The purpose of the TDY was field disbursing duties in Honduras, in support of CABANAS. 

	d.  A DD Form 1351-2 that shows he travelled from Fort Bragg, NC, on 19 April 1986 and arrived in Panama on 20 April 1986.  He departed Panama on 21 April 1986 and arrived in Honduras on 22 April 1986.  He travelled in Honduras (Mocoron, Palmerola, La Mesa, and Port Cortez) and returned to Fort Bragg, NC on 30 April 1986.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is authorized for qualifying service after 1 July 1958 in military operations within a specific geographic area during a specified time period.  An individual, who was not engaged in actual combat or equally hazardous activity, must have been a bona fide member of a unit participating in, or be engaged in the direct support of, the operation for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days provided this support involved entering the area of operations.  

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 defines "area of operation" as the foreign territory upon which troops have actually landed or are present and specifically deployed for the direct support of the designated military operation; adjacent water areas in which ships are operating, patrolling, or providing direct support of operations; and the airspace above and adjacent to the area in which operations are being conducted.  "Direct support" is defined as services being supplied to participating forces in the area of eligibility by ground units, ships, and aircraft provided it involves actually entering the designated area of eligibility.  This includes units, ships, and aircraft providing logistic, patrol, guard, reconnaissance, or other military support within the designated area of eligibility.  "Area of eligibility" is defined as the foreign territory on which troops have actually landed or are present and specifically deployed for the operation; adjacent water areas in which ships are operating, patrolling, or providing direct support of the operation; and the air space above and adjacent to the area in which operations are being conducted.
9.  Table 2-2 designates U.S. military operations, areas, and dates.  It states Panama is authorized as a designated military operation from 20 December 1989 to 31 January 1990 and El Salvador is authorized as a designated U.S. Military Operations of Assistance to a Friendly Foreign Nation from 1 January 1981 to 
1 February 1992.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

The evidence of record shows the applicant provided finance/disbursing support during an exercise called CABANAS 86 in Honduras.  This exercise is not a qualifying exercise for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.  As such, he is not entitled to this award.

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 to amend the decision of the ABCMR set forth in Docket Number AR20110000044, dated 19 July 2011.



      _______ _  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)                                         AR20120011603





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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20120011603



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