IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 3 March 2015
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20140010404
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 award of the Army Commendation Medal be added to his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge).
2. He states this award is not listed on his DD Form 214.
3. He provides an award certificate and a citation for award of the Army Commendation Medal and 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 enlisted in the Regular Army on 22 May 1968. He served in Vietnam from 30 October 1968 to 24 October 1969.
3. His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) does not show an entry for award of the Army Commendation Medal in item 41 (Awards and Decorations).
4. He provided a certificate dated 1 October 1969 and a citation which indicate he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service in the Republic of Vietnam from 30 October 1968 to 29 October 1969. His service record does not contain orders for award of the Army Commendation Medal.
5. He was honorably released from active duty on 21 May 1971 after completing 3 years of active military service. The DD Form 214 he was issued at the time does not show award of the Army Commendation Medal.
6. 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 Army Commendation Medal pertaining to the applicant.
7. Army Regulation 600-8-22 states the Army Commendation Medal 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, distinguishes 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 provided a certificate for award of the Army Commendation Medal. However, absent orders authorizing him award of the Army Commendation Medal, there is insufficient evidence on which to base correction of his records to show this award. Therefore, there is no basis for granting the applicant's 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) AR20140010404
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20140010404
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