BOARD DATE: 31 December 2013
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20130007597
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 that his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) be corrected to show his year of birth is 1930.
2. The applicant states his DD Form 214 incorrectly shows his year of birth as 1931; however, his correct year of birth is 1930.
3. The applicant provides copies of his DD Form 214 and certification of birth.
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's military records are not available for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members' records at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in 1973. It is believed the applicant's records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, the documents contained in a reconstructed record are sufficient to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case.
3. The applicant was serving in the Enlisted Reserve Corps (now known as the U.S. Army Reserve) when he was ordered to active duty in the rank of corporal for 24 months on 7 January 1953.
4. On 24 October 1954, he was honorably released from active duty (REFRAD) in the rank of sergeant at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He had served 1 year, 9 months and 18 days of active service and his DD Form 214 issued at the time of his REFRAD shows his year of birth in item 10 as 1931.
5. The certificate of birth provided by the applicant shows his year of birth as 1930.
6. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) serves as the authority for the preparation of the DD Form 214. It provides that the DD Form 214 will be prepared to reflect information as it exists in the official records at the time of separation.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. All of the available documents contained in the reconstructed record indicate that the applicant served with a year of birth of 1931 and he has not provided a sufficient explanation as to why or provided evidence to show that he did not serve with that year of birth. Therefore, there is an insufficient evidentiary basis for granting the applicant's requested relief.
2. For historical purposes, 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. In the absence of a showing of material error or injustice, there is a reluctance to recommend that those records be changed. While it is understandable the applicant desires to now record his correct year of birth in his military records, there is not a sufficiently compelling reason for compromising the integrity of the Armys records at this late date.
3. The applicant is advised that a copy of this decisional document will be filed in his official records. This should serve to clarify any questions or confusion in regard to the difference in the year of birth recorded in his military record and to satisfy his desire to have his correct year of birth documented in his official records.
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.
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