PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:               30 December 1998
	DOCKET NUMBER:      AC98-11876
				      AR198013805

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

	Mr. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Mr. Hubert S. Shaw, Jr.		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. George D. Paxson		Chairperson	
	Ms. Sherri V. Ward		Member	
	Mr. Van B. Cunningham		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

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

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests correction of his records to show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, two awards of the Army Commendation Medal and award of the Air Medal.  He also requests his record be amended to show completion of “IPSD” school (correctly known as the Scout Dog Course) at Fort Benning, Georgia, in November 1969.

3.  The applicant states that his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) does not show his awards or completion of the Scout Dog Course.  In support of his application, he submitted a copy of a Department of Veterans Affairs rating decision and two award certificates for the Army Commendation Medal.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered active duty in November 1969.  He completed training as an infantryman and as a scout dog handler and served in Vietnam from 7 December 1969 to 7 November 1970.  The applicant was honorably discharged on 7 November 1970.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show the of the Combat Infantryman Badge, two Army Commendation Medals and the Air Medal as authorized awards and does not show completion of the Scout Dog Course.  The Board notes the applicant was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation and the Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation which are not shown on his discharge document.

6.  The applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge by 199th Infantry Brigade Special Orders Number 52, dated 21 February 1970.

7.  The applicant received the first award of the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious achievement for the period 7 December 1969 to 6 May 1970 by Headquarters, United States Army Vietnam General Orders Number 1674, dated 6 June 1970.

8.  The applicant received the second award of the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious achievement for the period 7 May 1970 to 1 September 1970 by Headquarters, United States Army Vietnam General Orders Number 3864, dated 20 August 1970.

9.  There is no evidence in the applicant’s records which shows he was awarded the Air Medal.  There also is no indication in his records of the number of flight hours performed while he was assigned in Vietnam.  

10.  The applicant’s personnel records contain a certificate of training which states the applicant successfully completed the Scout Dog Training Course (Class Number 2/70) which was conducted from 5 August 1969 to 24 October 1969 at Fort Benning, Georgia.

11.  The applicant was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation by Department of the Army General Orders Number 50, dated 1971. 

12.  The applicant was awarded the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation by Headquarters Department of the Army General Orders Number 51, dated 1971.

13.  The applicant was awarded the Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation by Headquarters Department of the Army General Orders Number 51, dated 1971.

14.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Air Medal is awarded in time of war for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service while participating in aerial flight.  This award is primarily intended for personnel on flying status, but may also be awarded to those personnel whose combat duties require them to fly, for example personnel in the attack elements of units involved in air-land assaults against an armed enemy.  As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.

15.  Army Regulation 635-5 establishes the policies and procedures for completion and distribution of the DD Form 214.  In pertinent part it states that item 25 (Education and Training Completed) will list formal in service training courses successfully completed during the period of service covered by title, length in weeks, and month and year completed.  This information is to assist the soldier after separation in job placement and counseling; therefore, training courses for combat skills are not listed.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, two awards of the Army Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation and the Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these awards.

2.  There is no evidence of record which shows the applicant was recommended for or was awarded the Air Medal.  There is no indication the applicant met the met the requisite flight hours or missions to qualify for award of the Air Medal.  Therefore, he is not entitled to award of the Air Medal.

3.  Evidence of record shows the applicant successfully completed the Scout Dog Training Course in October 1969; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show the entry “Scout Dog Training Course/ 7 Weeks/October 1969”. 

4.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing the individual concerned was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, two awards of the Army Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation and the Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation and completed the Scout Dog Training Course (7 weeks in duration) in October 1969.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied 

BOARD VOTE:  

GDP____  SVW_____  VBC___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AC9811876/AR1998013805	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	1998/12/30	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	MR SCHNEIDER	
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.	100.00	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.