PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            8 August 2000     
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000039459

	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. Deborah L. Brantley		Senior Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Stanley Kelley		Chairperson	
	Mr. James E. Anderholm		Member	
	Mr. Ronald E. Blackely		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.  He states that he received a letter shortly after departing Vietnam that said some members of his unit were being awarded an Air Medal for the hours they had flying in helicopters.  He notes he no longer has the letter but does have a ribbon which he said "was not U.S. made."

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty on 
1 July 1969 and was assigned to Vietnam as an infantryman in December 1969 where he was assigned to D Troop, 7th Squadron, 1st Air Cavalry.  While in Vietnam he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and an Army Commendation Medal.  The applicant returned to the United States in January 1971 and on 2 February 1971 was honorably discharged in pay grade E-4.  His DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) does not reflect entitlement to the Air Medal and his Combat Infantryman Badge was omitted from the form.

4.  Also omitted from his DD Form 214 were his expert qualification badges with pistol bar, recoilless rifle bar, and grenade bar.

5.  A review of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) notes the applicant’s unit (7TH Squadron, 1st  Air Cavalry) was awarded a Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm during his tenure with the organization.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Air Medal is awarded in time of war for heroism, for meritorious achievement and for meritorious service (sustained operations).  As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.

7.  U.S. Army Vietnam (USARV) Regulation 672-1 provided, in pertinent part, guidelines for award of the Air Medal.  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) 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 and individual recommendation, approval through the chain of command and announcement in orders were still required.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There is no evidence, and the applicant has not provided any that he was ever recommended for or awarded an Air Medal and as such there is no basis to award the applicant that decoration.
2.  The evidence does, however, confirm that the applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, and expert qualification badges with pistol bar, recoilless rifle bar, and grenade bar, which were omitted from his DD Form 214.

3.  The evidence also confirms the applicant is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm.

4.  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:

	a.  by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Combat Infantryman badge and expert qualification badges with pistol bar, recoilless rifle bar, and grenade bar; and

	b.  by showing he is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

___sk___  ___jea__  __reb___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000039459	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000808	
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.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.