PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:               10 February 2000              
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AR1999027160

	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.  

	Ms. Beverly A. Young		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Van B. Cunningham		Chairperson	
	Mr. James P. Steuve		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 correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show the dates of his service in the Republic of Vietnam as “3 December 1969 to 31 January 1971” and to show award of the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM).

3.  The applicant states that his DD Form 214 shows his service in the Republic of Vietnam as “3 Dec 70 to 31 Jan 71”, but the actual dates are “3 Dec 69 to 31 Jan 71”.  He also states that item 24 of his DD Form 214 does not show the ARCOM he received after he returned home.  The applicant provides photocopies of general orders and a citation for award of the ARCOM.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Army on 26 June 1968 and completed training as a crawler tractor operator and was assigned to Germany from 14 December 1968 to 23 October 1969.  He later served in Vietnam from 3 December 1969 to 31 January 1971 and was honorably discharged from active duty on 1 February 1971.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows he served in the Republic of Vietnam from “3 December 1970 to 31 January 1971” in item 30 (Remarks).  However, his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he served in the Republic of Vietnam from “3 December 1969 to 31 January 1971”.  

6.  The applicant was awarded the ARCOM for meritorious service in the Republic of Vietnam during the period 3 December 1969 to 31 January 1971 by Headquarters, 20th Engineer Brigade General Orders Number 85, dated 25 February 1971.

7.  Army Regulation 635-5, in effect at the time, required that service on or after 5 August 1964 in Indochina and Korea be shown in item 30 (Remarks) with the inclusive dates of service in Vietnam and the entries “Yes” or “No” for service in Indochina and Korea.

8.  A review of the applicant’s personnel records revealed that he is entitled to award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) shows the applicant was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation based on Department of the Army General Orders Number 8, dated 1974.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows the applicant served in the Republic of Vietnam from 3 December 1969 to 31 January 1971; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show these dates.

2.  The applicant was awarded the Army Commendation Medal; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

3.  The applicant was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

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:

	a.  by deleting the entry “3 Dec 70 - 31 Jan 71” in item 30 (Remarks) of his DD Form 214;

	b.  by showing the entry “3 Dec 69 – 31 Jan 71” in item 30; and 

	c.  by showing the individual concerned was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.

BOARD VOTE:  

VBC_____  JPS_____  KLW___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Van B. Cunningham_____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999027160	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000210 	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	100.00	
2.	107.00	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.