IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 5 February 2015
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20140010057
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 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) to show his date of birth (DOB) as 25 June 1929 vice 15 June xxx 1930.
2. The applicant states his DOB is incorrectly listed on his DD Form 214. He would like the DD Form 214 to be corrected.
3. The applicant provides a 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 complete military records are not available to the Board for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members' records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. It is believed that his records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, there were sufficient documents remaining in a reconstructed record for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case.
3. The applicant's DD Form 214 shows he was inducted into the Army of the United States and entered active duty on 19 June 1951. A copy of his induction record is not available for review with this case.
4. The applicant's DD Form 214 also shows at the time of separation he held military occupational specialty 1766 (Radio Operator) and his most significant assignment was with the 351st Communications Recon Company.
5. He was honorably released from active duty on 5 June 1953 and he was transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve to complete his Reserve obligation. Item 10 (Date of Birth) of his DD Form 214 shows the entry "15 Jxxx 1930."
6. He submitted a birth certificate listing an individual with a similar name who was born on 25 Jxxx 1929.
7. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) at the time served as the authority for the preparation of the DD Form 214. It provides that the DD Form 214 will be prepared to reflect an individual's service as it exists on the date of release from active duty or discharge. It is important that the information listed on this form is accurate.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicant's induction record is not available for review with this case. It is unclear what DOB he used upon entering active duty. However, his reconstructed record contains a duly-constituted DD Form 214 that shows his DOB as "25 Jxxx 1930." Although he provides a birth certificate listing an individual with a similar name who was born on 25 June 1929, in the absence of his military records or at least his induction document it is presumed that the DOB shown on his DD Form 214 is correct.
2. For historical purposes, the Army has an interest in maintaining the accuracy of its records. In this regard, the information contained therein should reflect the conditions/circumstances that existed at the time the records were created and under which the military service was performed. Therefore, absent convincing independent and verifiable evidence to the contrary, it is presumed that his military service records, including the DD Form 214, were correct at the time and there is an insufficient evidentiary basis for changing his DOB.
3. Nevertheless, a copy of this decisional document will be filed in his service record in order to provide clarity and to deal with any confusion that might arise regarding the different the DOB he claims is correct. Filing the Board's decisional document will also guarantee the historical integrity of the applicant's military record regarding the DOB under which he served.
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) AR20140010057
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20140010057
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