PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           15 March 2001                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000043093

	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. Hall		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Ernest M. Willcher		Chairperson	
	Mr. Richard T. Dunbar		Member	
	Mr. Thomas E. O’Shaughnessy, Jr.		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 (AM).

3.  The applicant states in effect, that he served as a helicopter pilot in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) in 1968 and had more than 60 hours of combat flight time.  However, he was never awarded the AM, he believes that he qualifies for one or possibly two medals.  The applicant submits a copy of his flight record in support of his application.  

4.  The applicant’s military records show that on 7 January 1966, he enlisted in the Army for 2 years under the Reserve Warrant Officer Training Program.

5.  On 13 February 1967, the applicant was discharged from active duty to accept a Reserve Warrant Officer appointment.  On 14 February 1967, the applicant was ordered to active duty as WO1.  He completed the required training and was awarded military occupational specialty 062B0  (Helicopter Pilot).

6.  He was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), Republic of Vietnam from April to May 1967 as a helicopter pilot.  His record shows that on 4 May 1967, while he was attempting to embark on a mission his helicopter was hit by hostile fire.  As a result of the hostile action the applicant received fragment wounds to his left elbow.  General Orders #86, dated 5 May 1967, awarded the applicant the Purple Heart for his injury.

7.  The applicant’s Individual Flight Record (DA form 759), for the period 16 April
1967 through 4 May 1967 shows that he flew a total of 64 combat missions as a
pilot and co-pilot of UH-1D and OH-13S helicopters.

8.  On 29 May 1968, the applicant was placed on the temporary disability retired list.  

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-2 provides for the award of the Air Medal to any person who has distinguished himself while participating in aerial flight.  It is primarily intended to recognize those personnel who are on current crewmember
or noncrewmember flying status, which requires them to participate in aerial flight on a regular and frequent basis in the performance of their primary duties.  Involvement in such activities serves only to establish eligibility for award of the Air Medal; the degree of heroism, meritorious achievement or exemplary service determines who should receive the award.  Numerals, starting with 2, will be used to denote second and subsequent awards of the Air Medals.

10.  At the time, U.S. Army Vietnam Regulation 672-1 provided that individuals who had been recommended for award of the Air Medal for sustained operations must have had completed a minimum of 25 Category 1 missions and had accrued a minimum of 25 hours of flight time while engaged in Category 
1 missions; 50 Category II missions and had accrued a minimum of 50 hours of flight time while engaged in Category II missions; or 100 Category II missions and had accrued a minimum of 100 hours of flight time while engaged in Category III missions. 

11.  Combat missions were divided into three categories.  A category 1 mission was defined as a mission performed in an assault role in which a hostile force was engaged and was characterized by delivery of ordnance against the hostile force, or delivery of friendly troops or supplies into the immediate combat operations area.  A category II mission was characterized by support rendered as friendly force immediately before, during or immediately following a combat operation.  A category III mission was characterized by support of friendly forces not connected with an immediate combat operation but which must have been accomplished at altitudes which made the aircraft at times vulnerable to small arms fire, or under hazardous weather or terrain conditions.

12.  Since various types of missions would have been completed in accumulating flight time toward award of an Air Medal for sustained operations, different computations would have had to be made to combine category I, II and III flight time and adjust it to a common denominator.

13.  The Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 shows the 2nd Brigade, 
1st Cavalry Division was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm for the period 12 July 1965 through 16 October 1968.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows the applicant flew combat missions while assigned to the Republic of Vietnam from April to May 1967.  

2.  The DA Form 759, furnished by the applicant clearly shows that he flew
a total of 64 combat missions as a helicopter pilot.  Therefore, the Board concludes that the applicant is entitled to the award of the Air Medal numeral 
2.

3.  The evidence of record shows that General Orders #86, dated 5 May 
1967, awarded the applicant the Purple Heart.  However, his Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge, DD Form 214, does not reflect the award.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his record to show the Purple Heart.

4.  The evidence of record also shows that the applicant was assigned to the 
2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division during the time the unit was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm for the period 12 July 1965 through 
16 October 1968.

5.  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 Air Medal numeral 2 for the period
16 April through 4 May 1967.

2.  That the applicant’s DD Form 214, for the period ending 29 May 1968 be amended to show the award of the Air Medal numeral 2, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and the Purple Heart.

BOARD VOTE:  

__emw___  __rtd___  __teo___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			Ernest M. Willcher
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000043093	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20010315	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0018	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.