APPLICANT REQUESTS:  Correction of his military records to show he was awarded the overseas ribbon.

APPLICANT STATES:  He wants to re-apply for membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

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

He was inducted into the Army on 8 February 1966.  He served in Taiwan from 30 June 1966 - 26 January 1968 as a senior security guard.  He was relieved from active duty on 26 January 1968.

Army Regulation 600-8-22 prescribes Army policy, criteria and administrative instructions concerning individual military awards.  In pertinent part, it states the Overseas Service Ribbon is awarded to members of the U.S. Army for successful completion of overseas tours effective 1 August 1981.  Retroactive awards may be made to those personnel who were credited with a normal overseas tour completion before 1 August 1981 provided they had an Active Army status after 1 August 1981.

Army Regulation 670-1 prescribes the authorization for wear and composition of the uniform.  It also prescribes the awards, insignia and accouterments authorized for wear on the uniform.  In pertinent part, it states that one overseas service bar is authorized for each period of 6 months’ active Federal service as a member of a U.S. service in Vietnam from 1 July 1958 - 28 March 1973.  Periods of temporary duty (TDY) in Vietnam where credit is given for hostile fire pay for   1 month may also be given credit for a corresponding month towards an award of an overseas service bar.

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.  The applicant is not eligible for the Overseas Service Ribbon.  He has not supplied evidence to show he was TDY in Vietnam drawing hostile fire pay for at least 6 months in order to earn an overseas service bar.
3.  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

                       DENY APPLICATION

						Loren G. Harrell
						Director