IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 17 September 2013
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20130002616
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 correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show his primary specialty was combat engineer.
2. The applicant states he was not a plumber; he was a combat engineer.
3. The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214.
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 applicant's 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 applicant's 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 13 October 1966. He completed one-station unit training as a combat engineer pioneer at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and was transferred to Vietnam on 30 March 1967.
3. He was assigned to Company C, 864th Engineer Battalion (Construction), for duty as an engineer equipment helper and he was subsequently assigned the duties of plumber on 31 July 1967. On 19 September 1967, orders were published by the 864th Engineer Battalion withdrawing his primary military occupational specialty (PMOS) of 12A1O (Pioneer) and awarding him PMOS 51K2O (Plumber).
4. He departed Vietnam on 20 March 1968. He was transferred to Fort Benning, Georgia, for duty as a plumber where he remained until he was honorably released from active duty (REFRAD) on 11 October 1968 due to the expiration of his term of service (ETS). He completed 1 year, 11 months, and 29 days of active service. His DD Form 214 issued at the time of his REFRAD shows his primary specialty as 51K2O.
5. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) serves as the authority for preparation of the DD Form 214. It provides that the DD Form 214 will be prepared to reflect information that is supported by documents in official records that are in effect at the time the DD Form 214 is prepared.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicant's contention that his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show his primary specialty as combat engineer instead of plumber has been noted and appears to lack merit.
2. While the applicant was trained as a combat engineer pioneer, he was subsequently reclassified as a plumber and continued to serve as a plumber until he was honorably REFRAD.
3. Therefore, his DD Form 214 was properly prepared to show his primary specialty as plumber at the time of his REFRAD. The applicant has failed to show through the evidence of record and evidence submitted with his application that such was not the case.
4. Accordingly, there appears to be no basis to grant his request to change his specialty on his DD Form 214.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
___X_____ ___X_____ ___X_____ DENY APPLICATION
BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:
1. The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.
2. The Board wants the applicant and all others concerned to know this action in no way diminishes the sacrifices made by him in service to the United States during the Vietnam War. The applicant and all Americans should be justifiably proud of his service in arms.
___________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) AR20130002616
3
ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130002616
3
ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1
ARMY | BCMR | CY2015 | 20150002208
The Army Board for Correction of Military Records' Record of Proceedings (ROP) stated, "The applicant was assigned to Company C, 864th Engineer Battalion (Construction), for duty as an engineer equipment helper and he was subsequently assigned the duties of plumber on 31 July 1967. The applicant's military records show he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 13 October 1966. His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) lists in: * Item 22 (MOS) he was awarded the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140004821
The applicant requests reconsideration of his previous request for correction of item 23a (Specialty Number and Title) of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show his military occupational specialty (MOS) as combat engineer. He provided an undated letter from a retired CW2 who states: * he was assigned to Company C, 864th Engineer Battalion, 32nd Group, in Vietnam during March 1967-1968 * he and the applicant attended AIT for combat...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100026854
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the Unites States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show his military occupational specialty (MOS) as Water Supply Point Operator. His DD Form 214 shows he was honorably released from active duty as a specialist five (SP5)/E-5 effective 6 July 1970. The applicant was awarded PMOS 51N upon completion of his training and, according to his DA Form 20, he initially performed in that DMOS in Vietnam.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110019398
The applicant requests that his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected to show that his specialty number (block 23a) was 12B20 (Combat Engineer). He completed his basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana and his advanced individual training as a pioneer at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri before being transferred to Vietnam on 25 April 1966 for duty in MOS 56A10 (supply handler). Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120002162
The applicant states his DD Form 214 shows his specialty number and title as 67H (Cargo Handler). Item 22 (Military Occupational Specialties) of his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he was awarded secondary MOS (SMOS) 61C on 1 June 1967 and primary MOS (PMOS) 57H (Cargo Handler) on 5 December 1967. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by deleting from item 23a of his DD Form 214 the entry "67H2O...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060004226C070205
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 30 November 2006 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20060004226 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 applicant states that he attended an 8-week demolition course in Insbrook, Austria, an 8-week heavy equipment operator course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and he completed his GED in Vietnam and never received...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080014413
The applicant requests, in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, and Combat Infantryman Badge. The applicants military personnel records are absent orders or any other evidence to show he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. Therefore, it would be appropriate to correct his records to show this unit award.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060002442C070205
He was assigned to Vietnam in duty MOS 12B20 as a combat engineer in September 1966. The applicant’s medical documents indicate he had an acute sprain to his right ankle; however, there is no evidence of record which verify that the applicant was wounded or injured as a result of hostile action. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. amending item 23a on his DD Form 214 to show the entry “12B30 Combat...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080000754
The regulation also states, in pertinent part, that for first award only, upon termination of service on or after 27 June 1950, a period of service of less than 3 years but more than 1 year qualifies for award of the AGCM. However, after carefully examining the applicants record of service, it was determined that the applicant should have received the AGCM for his service from 16 August 1966 through 2 June 1969. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050015798C070206
William F. Crain | |Member | The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. The applicant states that his MOS was 12A (Pioneer) not 94B (Cook) as recorded on his DD Form 214. This Form also shows he served in MOS 94B (Cook) from 31 May 1966 through the date of his separation.