PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            25 July 2000      
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000042335

	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. Ted S. Kanamine		Chairperson	
	Mr. Stanley Kelley		Member	
	Mr. John H. Kern		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, in effect, award of the Bronze Star Medal.  He states that he was recommended for the award as a result of his service in Vietnam but the recommendation was apparently lost because he never received the award.  In support of his recommendation he submits a copy of the award recommendation.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty on 26 March 1968 and was promoted to pay grade E-5 in February 1969.  He was assigned to Vietnam as an x-ray technician in October 1969.  While in Vietnam the applicant was assigned to the 575th Medical Detachment (691004-700109 and 700710-700918) and the 8th Field Hospital (700110-700709).  His conduct and efficiency ratings from both units were excellent.

4.  The award recommendation submitted in support of his request appears to have been initiated in July 1970 when the applicant was reassigned from the 8th Field Hospital back to the 575th Medical Detachment.  The recommendation cites the applicant’s “excellent performance as [a] Radiologic Technologist at the 8th Field Hospital.”  It also notes his service as the noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) of the Radiology Department for several months and his selection for participation in a special training program involving Vietnamese student x-ray technicians.

5.  The first page of the recommendation indicates that the period of service for which the award was recommended was 1 August 1970 through 29 September 1970.  However, the period indicated in the typed “narrative description” on the second page of the recommendation is 1 October 1969 through an unreadable date in July 1970.  The July entry was changed with a handwritten notation to reflect 29 September 1970.

6.  The applicant returned to the United States in September 1970 and completed his enlistment contract at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.  He was honorably discharged on 25 March 1971.  Neither his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) nor his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) reflect entitlement to the Bronze Star Medal or any lesser personal decoration.  

7.  The applicant’s record contains an order awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal which was also not reflected on his DD Form 214.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who distinguished himself by heroism or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight in connection with military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force.

9.  A review of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) notes the applicant was credited with participating in four designated campaigns during his tour of duty in Vietnam and is also entitled to an award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm.  Bronze service stars denote his campaign participation and are worn on his Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  While there are certainly some discrepancies in the dates on the applicant’s award recommendation the Board believes that applicant was recommended for award of the Bronze Star Medal and it does not appear to ever have been processed to conclusion.  

2.  The applicant’s promotion to pay grade E-5 within the first year of his enlistment and his excellent conduct and efficiency ratings throughout his tour of duty in Vietnam is consistent with the narrative description of his meritorious service on the Bronze Star Medal recommendation.  The Board concludes that the applicant’s service in Vietnam warrants recognition by award of the Bronze Star Medal and it would be in the interest of justice to award him the decoration to recognize his meritorious service during the period October 1969 through September 1970.

3.  The Board also notes that the applicant’s award of the Army Good Conduct Medal should be recorded on his DD Form214.

4.  The applicant is also entitled to four bronze service stars on his Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal denoting participation in four designated campaign periods during his tour of duty in Vietnam as well as a Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm.

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:

a.  by awarding the individual concerned the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service during the period October 1969 through September 1970;

	b.  by showing that he was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal; and

	c.  by showing that he is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm and four bronze service stars on his Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

____tsk_  __sk____  __jhk___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000042335	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000725	
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.