PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                 29 July 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999016644

	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	
	Ms. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Charles H. Loundermon		Chairperson	
	Ms. Shirley L. Powell		Member	
	Mr. Curtis L. Greenway		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, in effect, that his DD214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected to show that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that the Bronze Star Medal is not shown on his DD Form 214.  In support of his applicant he submits a copy of his DD Form 214 and a copy of orders awarding him the Bronze Star Medal.

4.  The applicant’s military records show he was inducted on 3 January 1968 as a combat construction specialist.  He served in Vietnam from 2 June 1968 to 1 June 1969 and was honorably discharged on 17 December 1969.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device and two Overseas Service Bars.  His discharge document does not show the Bronze Star Medal as an authorized award.

6.  Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division General Orders Number 4552, dated 12 May 1969, show the applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

7.   The Board notes that the applicant is entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal, the Valorous Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation.

8.  There is no indication in the applicant’s personnel records that show he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal.  There also is no evidence that the applicant was disqualified by his unit commander for award of the Good Conduct Medal.
However, his records show that he received excellent conduct and efficiency rating during his entire period of service.  There is no evidence of derogatory information contained in the available records.

9.  The applicant was awarded the Valorous Unit Award by Department of the Army General Orders 2, dated 1971, the Meritorious Unit Combination by Department of the Army General Orders 22, dated 1976, and the Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation by Department of the Army General Orders 48, dated 1971, which are not shown on his discharge document.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  This period is 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Although there is no automatic entitlement to the Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show the Bronze Star Medal.

2.  The applicant is entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 3 January 1968 to 17 December 1969 based on completion of a period of qualifying service ending with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award. 

3.  The applicant was awarded the Valorous Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these awards.

4.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing in item 24 (Decorations and Awards) of his DD Form 214 that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 3 January 1968 to 17 December 1969, the Valorous Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation.

BOARD VOTE:  

CHL____  SLP_____  CLG____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Charles H. Loundermon_
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999016644	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990729	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19691217	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  60		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.