IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 9 June 2015
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20140018123
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 the DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) of her deceased husband, a former service member (FSM), be corrected to show the:
* National Defense Service Medal
* Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar
2. The applicant states the FSM's DD Form 214 is incorrect. It omitted the National Defense Service Medal, which was awarded to all who served during his Army tenure, and the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar. The FSM was honorably discharged due to a medical problem but his Army service was a source of pride for him.
3. The applicant provides:
* DD Form 214
* Death certificate
* Special Orders (SO) Number 31
* DA Form 24 (Service Record)
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. The FSM's records show he enlisted in the Regular Army on 2 January 1959. He was trained in and held military occupational specialty 931.10 (Medical Lab Specialist).
2. SO Number 31, issued by Headquarters, 1st Battle Group, 87th Infantry, Fort Benning, GA, on 17 February 1959, awarded him the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-1).
3. He was honorably discharged from active duty in the rank/grade of private first class (PFC)/E-3 on 8 April 1960. His DD Form 214 shows he completed 1 year, 3 months, and 7 days of active service with no lost time. Item 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citation and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 shows the entry "None."
4. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the National Defense Service Medal was established by Executive Order 10448, 22 April 1953, and has been amended by several executive orders. It is awarded for honorable active service for any period between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954, both dates inclusive; between 1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974, both dates inclusive; between 2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995; and from 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined.
5. A review of the FSM's service record reveals no derogatory information that would disqualify him for the first award of the Army Good Conduct Medal. Additionally, Section 4 (Chronological Record of Military Service) of his DA Form 24 shows he received "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings throughout his military service except for an unknown rating on 9 September 1959 while assigned to a medical detachment at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.
6. Army Regulation 672-5-1 (Military Awards), in effect at the time, provided that the Army Good Conduct Medal was awarded to individuals who completed a qualified period of active duty enlisted service. This period was 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ended with the termination of a period of Federal military service. The enlisted person must have had all "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings and no convictions by a court-martial.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. SO awarded the FSM the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-1). Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show this badge.
2. The FSM served honorably during the period 2 January 1959 through 8 April 1960. He completed 1 year, 3 months, and 7 days of active service with no lost time. He received "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings throughout his military service (except for an unknown rating on 9 September 1959 while assigned to a medical detachment at Fort Leonard Wood) and he attained the rank/grade of PFC/E-3. His records do not contain any derogatory information that would have disqualified him from receiving his first award of the Army Good Conduct Medal. Therefore, it would be appropriate to award him the first award of the Army Good Conduct Medal based on completion of a qualifying period of Federal military service and correct his DD Form 214 to show his medal.
3. The FSM served on active duty from 2 January 1959 to 8 April 1960. The National Defense Service Medal was not authorized during this period of service. It was authorized from 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954 and between 1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974. The FSM was not on active duty during either period. He is ineligible for this award.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF
____x___ ____x___ ___x____ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:
1. The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by:
* awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity during the period 2 January 1959 through 8 April 1960
* adding to item 26 of his DD Form 214 the:
* Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award)
* Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-1)
2. The Board further determined that the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief. As a result, the Board recommends
denial of so much of the application that pertains to the National Defense Service Medal.
_______ _ _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) AR20140018123
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20140018123
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