PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           13 June 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000035182

	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. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mrs. Joyce A. Hughes .		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Elizabeth Buchanon		Chairperson	
	Mr. John H. Kern		Member	
	Ms. Barbara J. Ellis		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 DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transferred or Discharge) be corrected to show that he was awarded the Combat Medical Badge (CMB).

3.  The applicant states in effect, that he served with Co B 15th Medical Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Division as a medical specialist in Vietnam.  He further states that these facts along with being in combat should qualify him for the CMB award.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army on 
9 April 1964.  He completed basic combat training and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 91B20 (Medical Specialist).

5.  During the period of August 1965 to March 1966, the applicant served in Vietnam he was assigned to Co B 15th Medical Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Division (Airmobile).  On 5 April 1966, the applicant was released from active duty.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Medical Badge could be awarded to Medical Department personnel assigned or attached to infantry units of brigade or smaller size who satisfactorily perform medical duties while the unit is engaged in actual ground combat, provided they are personally present and under fire.  The award was established to recognize medical aidmen who shared the same hazards and hardships of ground combat on a daily basis with the infantry soldier.  So stringent was this requirement during the Vietnam era that recommending officials were required to document the place (in six-digit coordinates), time, type and intensity of fire to which the proposed recipient was exposed.  This fact naturally precludes the awarding of the badge to those medical personnel who accompany infantry units into a potential engagement area but do not come under enemy fire.

7.  It also provides, in pertinent part, that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded for each 3 years of continuous enlisted active Federal Military service completed on or after 27 August 1940 and, for the first award only, upon termination of service on or after 27 June 1950 of less than 3 years but more than 1 year.  At the time, a soldier’s conduct and efficiency rating must have been rated as “excellent” for the entire period of qualifying service.

8.  Army Pamphlet 672-3 shows the 15th Medical Battalion was awarded the RVN Gallantry Cross w/Palm for the period 9 August 1965 to 19 May 1969.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows the applicant met the eligibility criteria for award of the Combat Medical Badge.  It shows he met the eligibility criteria for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal.  It also shows he was assigned to a unit during a period of time it was awarded the RVN Gallantry Cross w/Palm.

2.  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 by awarding the applicant the Combat Medical Badge and the Army Good Conduct Medal (for the period 9 April 1964 through 5 April 1966).

2.  Correcting the applicant’s DD Form 214 to show that he was awarded the 
Combat Medical Badge, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and RVN Gallantry Cross with Palm.

BOARD VOTE:  

__eb____  __jhk___  __bje___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			Elizabeth Buchanon
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000035182	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000613	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0113	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.