IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 5 June 2014
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20130018298
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 date of birth as
24 July 1936 vice 25 August 1935.
2. He states his date of birth on his DD Form 214 is incorrect.
3. He provides his DD Form 214 and his State of Georgia Amended Birth Certificate.
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, for the period of his DD Form 214, are not available to the ABCMR for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members' records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. It is believed that the applicant's records were lost or destroyed in that fire. This case is being considered using the DD Form 214 provided by the applicant.
3. Records available to the Board show the applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 8 March 1955. He was honorably released from active duty on 7 March 1957 and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve. He completed 2 years of active duty service.
4. Item 6 (Date of Birth) of his DD Form 214 shows his date of birth as 25 August 1935.
5. He provides a copy of his State of Georgia Amended Birth Certificate, dated 20 February 1997, which shows his date of birth was amended from 1 May 1937 to 24 July 1936.
6. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. It states the purpose of the separation document is to provide the individual with documentary evidence of his or her military service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. It is important that information entered on the form be complete and accurate, reflective of the conditions as they existed at the time of separation.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. While it is understood that the applicant desires to have his DD Form 214 corrected to show his date of birth he now claims is his correct date of birth, there are no documents available that show he used 1 May 1937 which was amended to 24 July 1936 as his date of birth during his military service. Therefore, in the absence of documentation to verify the date of birth he used throughout his military service, the presumption of regularity must be applied.
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 date of birth as 24 July 1936 on his DD Forms 214, there is not a sufficiently compelling reason for compromising the integrity of the Army's records.
3. The applicant is advised that a copy of this decisional document which confirms the date of birth shown on his amended birth certificate 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 date of birth recorded in his military record and to satisfy his desire to have the date of birth shown on his amended birth certificate documented in his OMPF.
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) AR20130018298
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130018298
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