MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:            7 November 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000044000

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. George D. Paxson 		Chairperson	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer 		Member	
	Ms. Paula Mokulis 		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  Award of the Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device.  

APPLICANT STATES:  In effect, that his captain put him in for an award of the Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device for helping a wounded soldier who was with the “Big Red One” on 1 February 1968 in Vietnam.  In support of his application, the applicant indicates that he is providing a “write up from 32 years ago”; however, this “write up” was not attached to his application.  

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

The applicant was ordered to active duty for training on 2 March 1965 and honorably released from active duty on 8 August 1965 to the Army National Guard.  He enlisted in the Regular Army on 15 December 1966 for a period of 
3 years.  The applicant served as a postal clerk in Vietnam from 3 June 1967 through 27 May 1968 and was discharged with an under honorable conditions
(a general discharge) on 19 August 1968.  The Army Discharge Review Board upgraded the applicant’s discharge to honorable in March 1976.    

The applicant’s DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge), which was authenticated in his own hand, does not show the Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device as an authorized award.

There is no evidence in the applicant’s personnel records which shows the applicant was recommended for or awarded the Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device.  

Item 41 (Awards and Decorations) on the applicant’s DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) does not show entitlement to the Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device.

Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides that the Army Commendation Medal may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 
6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.  As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.  The bronze “V” device indicates acts of heroism involving conflict with an armed enemy.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  There is no evidence of record available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows the applicant was recommended for or awarded the Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device.  Therefore, the applicant is not entitled to correction of his military records to show the Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device. 

2.  In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy this requirement.

3.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

GDP____  MHM____  PM_____  DENY APPLICATION

		    Carl W. S. Chun
		    Director, Army Board for Correction
    of Military Records

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000044000	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20001107	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(GD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19680819 – Army Discharge Review Board upgraded discharge to honorable in March 1976.	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200 	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0020	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.