PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:            17 February 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999017140

	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. Deborah L. Brantley		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Charles H. Loundermon		Chairperson	
	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn		Member	
	Mr. John Saputo		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 military records be corrected to reflect several awards and decorations listed on an attachment to his DD Form 149.  (Note:  Several of the awards are already correctly reflected on his various separation reports and as such the Board will not address those awards.  Additionally, the applicant is requesting several decorations associated with his service in the Army Air Corp and Air Force prior to his entry on active duty with the Army in 1950.  The applicant is advised to contact the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records in accordance with the 
11 October 1957 Memorandum of Agreement between the Air Force and the Army to address those issues.  In view of the foregoing, only the applicant’s request for the Korean Service Medal with 6 campaign stars, the United Nations Service Medal with Korean Clasp, the Vietnam Service Medal with 5 campaign stars, the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm will be addressed by the Board.)

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty with the Army on 27 March 1950 and remained on continuous active duty until his retirement by reason of disability on 16 March 1971.  Although his various separation documents reflect entitlement to the Korean and Republic of Vietnam Service Medals they do not reflect the appropriate service stars, nor do they reflect entitlement to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm or a Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.  His 1963 separation report reflects entitlement to the United Nations Service Medal.

4.  The applicant was assigned to Headquarters Company 19th Combat Engineer Group in Korea from 13 August 1950 until 25 August 1951.  The applicant was assigned to Korea during 6 designated campaign periods (UN Defensive, UN Offensive, CCF Intervention, First UN Counteroffensive, CCF Spring Offensive, and the UN Summer-Fall Offensive).

5.  In June 1968 the applicant was assigned to the Administration Company of United States Army Vietnam (USARV).  He remained in Vietnam until July 1969 when he was reassigned to Europe and ultimately returned to the United States for disability processing.  The applicant was assigned to Vietnam during 5 designated campaign periods (RVN Counteroffensive Phases IV, V and VI, TET 69 Counteroffensive, and the Vietnam Summer-Fall Campaign).

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Awards and Decorations) states that the Korean Service Medal was established in 1950 and awarded for service in Korea between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954.  A bronze service star is authorized for wear on the Korean Service Medal to denote participation in designated campaign periods.  A single silver service star is worn in lieu of 5 bronze service stars.

7.  The United Nations Service Medal was established in 1950 by the United nations General Assembly and authorized for soldiers serving in Korea between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954.  There is no “Korean” clasp authorized for wear on the medal.

8.  The Korean Government awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation to specific units.  A review of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) does not indicate the 19th Combat Engineer Group was awarded the decoration during the applicant’s period of assignment.

9.  The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation was awarded to specific organizations, in one of four degrees, by the Vietnamese government for valorous combat achievement.  It was awarded with palm to units cited before the Armed Forces.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 confirms the applicant’s organization (Administrative Company – USARV) was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with palm during the applicant’s tour of duty with the organization.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record confirms the applicant is entitled to the Korean Service Medal with 1 silver service star and 1 bronze service star denoting participation in 6 designated campaign periods during is assignment in Korea.

2.  The evidence also confirms the applicant is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal with 1 silver service star denoting participation in 
5 designated campaign periods while assigned to Vietnam.

3.  Additionally, based on his service in Vietnam he is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with palm.

4.  There is no evidence that confirms the applicant’s unit of assignment while in Korea (the 19th Combat Engineer Group) was awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and as such there is no basis for the award.

5.  The applicant is authorized the United Nations Service Medal and it is correctly reflected on his separation document.  The medal does not have a “clasp” associated with it and as such there is no need to correct the existing entry in the applicant’s record.

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

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:

a.  by showing that the individual concerned is entitled to the Korean Service Medal with 1 silver service star and 1 bronze service star;

b.  by showing that he is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal with 1 silver service star and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm. 

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__chl___  __fne___  ___js_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AC98-12758/AR1999017140	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990217	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(NC, GRANT , DENY, GRANT PLUS)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.107.00		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.