PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           10 March 1999                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999022181

	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. Kenneth Aucock		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred K. McCoy		Chairperson	
	Ms. Meta Waller		Member	
	Mr. Kenneth L. Wright		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 award of the Air Medal. 

3.  The applicant states that he had over 225 hours of combat time in the air, he should be awarded the Air Medal, and that award should be reflected on his           DD Form 214.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army on        24 June 1966, completed training as a helicopter repairman, and in January 1967 was assigned to Troop D (Air), 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, a 25th Infantry Division unit, in Vietnam. 

5.  On 20 October 1967 the applicant was required to perform hazardous duty as a crewmember with that unit in MOS 76N20 (supply).  In December 1967 he returned to the United States, was assigned to Hunter Army Air Field in Georgia, and was released from active duty at Fort Stewart on 21 June 1968.  His DD Form 214 indicates his specialty as that of an observation utility helicopter mechanic.  It does not show award of the Air Medal, nor award of an aircraft crewmember badge.  

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Air Medal is awarded in time of war for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service while participating in aerial flight.  This award is primarily intended for personnel on flying status, but may also be awarded to those personnel whose combat duties require them to fly, for example personnel in the attack elements of units involved in air-land assaults against an armed enemy. 

7.  U.S. Army Vietnam (USARV) Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) implements the provisions of the Army regulation, then in effect, and states in pertinent part, that a crewmember is an individual on flying status performing duties in flight which are essential to the operation of the aircraft.  It goes on to provide, in pertinent part, a description of types of air missions, to include Category I missions.  A Category I mission is one performed in an assault role in which a hostile force is engaged and is characterized by delivery of ordnance against this hostile force, or delivery of friendly troops or supplies into the immediate combat operations area.  Types of Category I missions include delivery of supplies into the assault area and visual reconnaissance immediately preceding a combat assault.

8.  That regulation established that passenger personnel who did not participate in an air assault were not eligible for the award based upon sustained operations.  It defined terms and provided guidelines for the award based upon the number and types of missions or hours.  Twenty five Category I missions (air assault and equally dangerous missions) and accrual of a minimum of 25 hours of flight time while engaged in Category I missions was the standard established for which sustained operations were deemed worthy of recognition by an award of the Air Medal.  However, the regulation was clear that these guidelines were considered only a departure point.  Nothing created an entitlement to the award.  There was no provision for making the award simply because an aircraft was struck by enemy fire.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, provides in pertinent part, that an Aircraft Crewman Badge may be awarded by any commander of a unit with aircraft assigned to
individuals in a flying status as crewmembers and to non-crewmembers who hold principal assignments as observers, medical aidmen, gunners, maintenance
supervisors or technical inspectors. 

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  It appears reasonable to assume that the applicant, having been required to perform hazardous duty as an aircraft crewmember, had at least 25 hours of flight time while engaged in Category I missions.  Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Air Medal.

2.  The applicant is also entitled to award of the Aircraft Crew Member Badge. 

3.  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 that the individual concerned was awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight during the period 20 October 1967 until 30 December 1967; and that he was awarded the Aircraft Crewmember Badge.

BOARD VOTE:  

___fkm__  ___mw___  __klw___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999022181	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990310	
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.