PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:               6 July 2000               
	DOCKET NUMBER:      AR2000038815

	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	
	Ms. Beverly A. Young		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Calvin M. Fowler		Chairperson	
	Mr. Ernest M. Willcher		Member	
	Mr. John P. Infante		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 Combat Medical Badge.

3.  The applicant states that he saw action with an infantry platoon in Troop D (Air), 1/4th Calvary, 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam in 1968.  In support of his application, he provides copies of orders awarding him the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) with “V” Device and an award certificate for his Bronze Star Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) with “V” Device.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted on 24 July 1967 and completed training as a medical specialist.  He served in Vietnam during the period 22 December 1967 through 22 December 1968 and was honorably discharged on 6 June 1969.   His DD Form 214 does not show the Combat Medical Badge as an authorized award.  

5.  The applicant’s personnel records show that he held a medical military occupational specialty (MOS) 91B20 and was assigned to the cavalry squadron of the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam.  There is no evidence that he served in a medical unit organic to an infantry brigade.  However, the applicant’s award citation for the Bronze Star Medal with “V” Device shows that he was a medical aidman assigned to an Aero-rifle Platoon, which is the infantry platoon of an air cavalry troop, organic to a cavalry squadron or armored cavalry regiment.

6.  The Board notes that the applicant was entitled to award of the Vietnam Service Medal with one silver service star, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, the Valorous Unit Award, and the first award of the Good Conduct Medal.

7.  The applicant’s DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he received credit for participation in the Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase III and the Vietnam Tet Counteroffensive in item 39 (Campaigns).  Table B-1 of Army Regulation 600-8-22 shows the applicant was also entitled to credit for participation in the Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase IV, the Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase V, and the Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase VI during his tour in Vietnam.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, authorizes award of a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation.  A silver service star is authorized in lieu of five bronze service stars to be worn on the appropriate service medal.  

8.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) shows the applicant is entitled to award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation based on Department of the Army General Orders Number 21, dated 1969.  This document also shows the unit, to which the applicant was assigned, was cited for award of the Valorous Unit Award for actions on 31 January 1968 by Department of the Army General Orders Number 31, dated 1969.
9.  There is no evidence the applicant received the first award of the Good Conduct Medal.  There also is no evidence the applicant was disqualified by his chain of command from receiving the Good Conduct Medal.  His records do not contain any adverse information and he received conduct and efficiency ratings of “excellent” throughout his service.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Medical Badge is awarded to medical department personnel (colonel 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.

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Infantryman Badge is awarded to infantry officers and to enlisted and warrant officer persons who have an infantry MOS.  They must have served in active ground combat while assigned or attached to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental or smaller size.

12.  U.S. Army Vietnam (USARV) Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) governed the awards program in the Army theater of operations during the Vietnam conflict.  This regulation did not provide specific guidance for award of the Combat Medical Badge.  However, USARV Regulation 672-1 did provide detailed guidance on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge which is awarded to infantry personnel based essentially on the same criteria for award of the Combat Medical Badge to medical aid personnel assigned to infantry units.  The regulation provided that the Combat Infantryman Badge was authorized for award to infantry personnel who were members of infantry platoons and squads in armored cavalry squadrons and regiments. 

13.  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.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The citation for a valor award shows the applicant was assigned as a medical aidman in the Aero-rifle Platoon in a cavalry squadron of the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam and was wounded in ground combat.  Based on USARV Regulation 672-1, the Combat Infantryman Badge was authorized for award to the infantry soldiers of the Aero-rile Platoon.  As a result, the Board has determined that a medical aidman assigned to that platoon should also be entitled to award of the Combat Medical Badge.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to award of the Combat Medical Badge and correction of his records to show this award.

2.  Evidence of record shows the applicant participated in five campaigns during his assignment in Vietnam which are not correctly recognized by service stars on his Vietnam Service Medal.  Therefore, in accordance with the governing regulation, the applicant is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show the Vietnam Service Medal with one silver service star.

3.  The applicant was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation and the Valorous Unit Award; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these awards.

4.  The applicant is entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal based on completion of qualifying service from 24 July 1967 through 6 June 1969 ending with termination of a period of Federal military service.

5.  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 the individual concerned was awarded Combat Medical Badge, the Vietnam Service Medal with one silver service star, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, the Valorous Unit Award, and the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 24 July 1967 through 6 June 1969.

BOARD VOTE:  

CMF____  EMW____  JPI_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Calvin M. Fowler______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000038815	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000706	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0113	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.