PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:         4 February 1999                     
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-12589
				    AR1999017847

	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:

	Ms. Joann H. Langston		Chairperson	
	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		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 that his military records be corrected to reflect completion of the Medical Corpsman Course in 1968 and award of the Distinguished Flying Cross, Army Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with a silver service star, the Sharpshooter Badge with automatic rifle bar, a Marksmanship Badge with rifle bar, the Air Medal with 49 oak leaf clusters, and the Combat Medical Badge.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant was inducted on 
25 January 1968 and was discharged for the purpose of enlisting in the Regular Army on 29 January 1968.  In June 1968 the applicant successfully completed a 10-week Medical Corpsman Course at Fort Sam Houston, Texas and was awarded specialty 91A (medical corpsman).

4.  Following completion of training the applicant was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he was awarded a Sharpshooter Badge with automatic rifle bar (M-16) and a Marksmanship Badge with rifle bar (M-14).

5.  In November 1968 the applicant was assigned to Vietnam.  He was initially assigned to the 68th Medical Group but subsequently transferred to the 57th (Dust off) Medical Detachment.  

6.  On 9 November 1969 the applicant was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross as a result of his heroic actions on 28 July 1968.  Headquarters, US Army Vietnam, published orders confirming the award.  While in Vietnam the applicant was credited with participating in five designated campaign periods (Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase VI, Tet 69 Counteroffensive, Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969, Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970, and DA Sanctuary Counteroffensive) which should be reflected as a silver service star on his Vietnam Service Medal.

7.  The applicant returned to the United States in June 1970 and completed his enlistment contract at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  He was released from active duty on 29 January 1971 in pay grade E-5.  The Distinguished Flying Cross, Vietnam Service Medal with a silver service star, the marksmanship qualification badges, and completion of the Medical Corpsman Course were omitted from his separation document.  The separation document did not reflect entitlement to the Army Good Conduct Medal or the Combat Medical Badge but did indicate he was entitled to 26 awards of the Air Medal (Air Medal w/25th OLC).

8.  In 1984 officials at the Army Military Personnel Center in Washington administratively awarded the applicant a total of 50 awards of the Air Medal.  (Note:  Originally second and subsequent awards of the Air Medal were denoted by oak leaf clusters, however, currently second and subsequent awards are denoted by an Arabic numeral 3/16 inch in height.  The ribbon denotes the first award and numerals starting with the numeral 2 denote the number of additional awards.)

9.  Army Regulation 635-5 establishes the policies and procedures for completion and distribution of the DD Form 214.  During the period in question it stated that item 25 (military education) would list formal in service training courses successfully completed during the period of service covered by the DD Form 214.  This information is to assist the soldier after separation in job placement.

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.  Current practice requires that the commander provide written notice of non-favorable consideration and permits the individual to respond. 

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Medical Badge is awarded to medical department personnel (colonels and below) who are assigned or attached to a medical unit of company or smaller size that is organic to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental or smaller size which is engaged in active ground combat.  Battle participation credit is not sufficient; the infantry unit must have been in contact with the enemy.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms the applicant successfully completed the Medical Corpsman Course in 1968 although it was omitted from his separation document.

2.  The evidence also confirms the applicant was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross, a Sharpshooter Badge with automatic rifle bar, a Marksmanship Badge with rifle bar, a total of 50 Air Medals and that he is entitled to the Vietnam Service Medal with a silver service star.

3.  The applicant completed a qualifying period of service for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal on 24 January 1971, three years after his initial induction in the Army.  There is no evidence in the applicant's official military personnel file that his commander ever disqualified him for award of the Good Conduct Medal nor is there any evidence which would serve as a basis to deny the award.  As such he should be awarded the medal for the period 25 January 1968 through 
24 January 1971.

4.  Although the applicant may have served as a medical corpsman while in Vietnam he was not assigned to an infantry unit and as such is not entitled to the Combat Medal Badge.

RECOMMENDATION:

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

a.  by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, a Sharpshooter Badge with automatic rifle bar, a Marksmanship Badge with rifle bar, and 50 awards of the Air Medal (Air Medal with “50” numeral);

b.  by showing that he is entitled to the Vietnam Service Medal with a silver service star denoting participation in five designated campaign periods while in Vietnam;

c.  by awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 25 January 1968 through 24 January 1971; and

d.  by showing that he completed the Medical Corpsman Course in 1968.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__jhl___  __aao___  ___vbc__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AC98-12589/AR1999017847	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990204	
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.