PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:            22 July 1999                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999017432

	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. Paul A. Petty		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Calvin M. Fowler		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas N. Kuhn		Member	
	Mr. Raymond J. Wagner		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 that he be awarded the Air Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry as a result of his service in Vietnam.

3.  The applicant states that several other members of his infantry platoon were awarded these medals for the same time period of November 1968 to October 1969 that he was assigned to the platoon.  He was the medic of the platoon and went on all the missions.  He provides a copy of orders dated 17 October 1969 showing other members of his unit were awarded the Air Medal between May and August 1969.  He provides names and addresses for his company commander and platoon leader from this period of time.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 15 August 1967.  After completing basic training and advanced individual training, he was assigned on 5 February 1968 to a field hospital in Alaska as a medical corpsman.  He reenlisted on 30 September 1968 and was reassigned to 123d Aviation Battalion in Vietnam as a medical corpsman on 22 November 1968.  He was advanced to the grade of E-4 on 30 December 1968.  He served successfully until his honorable release from active duty on 2 March 1970 due to hardship at home and was transferred to the Standby Reserves.  He was honorably discharged from the Reserves on 30 November 1970 due to hardship. The hardship was concerning his incapacitated father, his emotionally unstable mother due to the kidnap of the applicant's sister, and his need to be at home to help with 5 school age siblings.

5.  The records show that the applicant was awarded: the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service in connection with military operations against a hostile force in Vietnam for the period of November 1968 to November 1969; the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 device, Combat Medical Badge, and the Sharpshooter (Rifle) Marksmanship Badge.  He was given a Conduct and Efficiency Rating of excellent for the period 11 December 1969 to 26 February 1970.

6.  The Good Conduct Medal is awarded to soldiers who distinguish themselves from among their fellow soldiers by their exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity according to Army Regulation 600-8-2, Military Awards, Chapter 4, Section I.  The qualifying periods of service include: 3 years completed on or after 27 August 1940; and for the first award only, 1 year served entirely during the period 7 December 1941 to 2 March 1946 or upon termination of service on or after 27 June 1950 with less than 3 years but more than 1 year.

7.  The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm is awarded by the Vietnamese government for valorous combat achievement for specified periods of time for specific units as identified in Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register Vietnam Conflict.  This reference shows that the unit to which the applicant was assigned from 
22 November 1968 to 2 March 1970 was awarded the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm for the period 24 August 1969 to 31 December 1969.  The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Medal is not available from the Army or the US Government, but must be purchased from commercial sources by the applicant.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant is eligible for award of the Good Conduct Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.  These awards should be added his separation document.

2.  The applicant has provided no evidence to substantiate his eligibility for award of the Air Medal.  The orders submitted showing the names of others does not substantiate his eligibility for the Air Medal.  He should obtain witness statements from his commander and platoon leader and resubmit his request for consideration of award of the Air Medal.

3.  His discharge document, DD Form 214, for the period 30 September 1968 to 2 March 1970 does not list the award of his Army Commendation Medal.  It also does not list his "Date of Enter" for this period, shows an incorrect "Net Service this Period" and "Other Service".

4.  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 for the individual concerned by:

	a.  awarding to him the Good Conduct Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm;

	b.  providing him with the Good Conduct Medal; 

	c.  showing on his DD Form 214 ending 2 March 1970 the additional awards of the Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm; and

	d.  showing on his DD Form 214 ending 2 March 1970 that his "Date of Entry" was 30 September 1968, that his "Net Service this Period" is 1 year 
5 months 3 days, and that his "Other Service" is 1 year 1 month 15 days.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

_cmf____  _tnk____  _rjw_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Calvin M. Fowler________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990722	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT, DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.