MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           20 January 1999                                      
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1998013578

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

	Mr. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Mr. Robert J. McGowan		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. June Hajjar 		Chairperson	
	Mr. Robert W. Garrett 		Member	
	Ms. Deborah S. Jacobs 		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That he be awarded the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) for meritorious service while in Vietnam.

APPLICANT STATES:  That he was recommended for the BSM and was told that he would receive it at his next duty station.  He provides a copy of USARV Form 157-R, Recommendation for Decoration for Valor or Merit, signed by his company commander and dated 25 October 1971.  It recommends him for a BSM for meritorious service from 15 March 1969 to 29 November 1971.  The form is not signed at the next higher headquarters level (battalion headquarters).

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

He enlisted in the Regular Army for 3 years on 23 May 1955 and was honorably discharged on 29 November 1957.  He then had a break in service before he reenlisted on 23 January 1967.  He served continuously until 18 February 1975, when he once again received an honorable discharge and took a short break in service.  He reenlisted on 21 September 1976 and served until retirement as a staff sergeant on 28 February 1986 with 20 years and 13 days of creditable service.

The applicant’s records reflect that he served three tours of duty in Vietnam; 19 September 1967 to 17 September 1968, 10 April 1969 to 1 April 1970, and 30 November 1970 to 28 November 1971.  During the inclusive period for award of the BSM as indicated on the document provided by the applicant, his records show that he was assigned to Company A, Support Troops, US Army Training Center - Infantry, Fort Dix, New Jersey from May-November 1970.  There is nothing in his records to indicate that he was awarded a BSM.

The Awards Branch, Total Army Personnel Command (TAPC), reveals no general orders for the applicant’s major unit in the Republic of Vietnam during the period October-November 1971.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  In order to justify correction of a military record, the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy the aforementioned requirement.

2.  Although the applicant provided a copy of an award recommendation allegedly completed by his company commander, his records contain no evidence that he was approved for award of the BSM.  Furthermore, Awards Branch at TAPC can find no general orders for the applicant’s major unit in Vietnam for the time period during which the award would have been approved.

3.  The award recommendation provided by the applicant covers a period between his second and third tours in Vietnam; a period when his records show that he was assigned to Fort Dix.

4.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

___JH___  __RWG      __DSJ__  DENY APPLICATION

						Loren G. Harrell
						Director

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1998013578	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990120	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(NC, GRANT , DENY, GRANT PLUS)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0014	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.