PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:            14 December 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000044125

	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	
	Mr. Hubert S. Shaw, Jr.		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. June Hajjar		Chairperson	
	Mr. Hubert O. Fry, Jr.		Member	
	Mr. Richard T. Dunbar		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 correction of his military occupational specialty (MOS) to show 11B20 instead of 31B20.  He also requests correction of his records to show award of two Oversea Service Bars. 

3.  The applicant states that he was a helicopter door gunner in Vietnam for about five months and served in MOS 11B20 while in the 191st Assault Helicopter Company.  He also states that he was awarded two Oversea Service Bars.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted on 4 March 1968 and completed training as Field Radio Mechanic (MOS 31B).  He served in Vietnam from January 1969 to January 1970 and was honorably separated from active duty on 14 January 1970. 

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) shows in item 23a (Specialty Number and Title) that his MOS was 31B20 Field Radio Mechanic.  

6.  The applicant’s DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows in item 38 (Record of Assignments) that he completed advanced individual training at Fort Eustis, Virginia, on 16 July 1968 and was awarded MOS 31B.

7.  There is no indication in the applicant’s records that he completed advanced individual training in MOS 11B (infantry) or was awarded an infantry MOS.  

8.  The Board noted that the applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show award of the Oversea Service Bar in item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized).

9.  The Board also noted that the applicant was eligible for award of the Good Conduct Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation which are also not shown on his DD Form 214.

10.  There is no indication in the applicant’s personnel records that he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal.  There also is no evidence the applicant was disqualified by his unit commander for award of the Good Conduct Medal.  Records show the applicant’s conduct and efficiency were rated as “excellent” throughout his service and there is no indication of indiscipline in his records.

11.  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 59, dated 1969.

12.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) also shows the applicant is entitled to award of the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation based on Department of the Army General Orders Number 54, dated 1974.

13.  Army Regulation 670-1, in effect at the time, governs the requirements for the Oversea Service Bar.  In pertinent part, it provides that a bar is authorized for wear for each period of active Federal service as a member of the U.S. Army outside of the continental limits of the United States for the specific timeframes and areas of operation cited in Army Regulation 670-1 or appropriate Department of the Army message.  There are special provisions regarding authorization for the Oversea Service Bar for service in a hostile fire zone and for combining service to calculate award of the bars.

14.  For Vietnam service, one Oversea Service Bar is authorized for each period of 6 months active Federal service as a member of a U.S. Service in Vietnam from 1 July 1958 to 28 March 1973.  Both the month of arrival and the month of departure from Vietnam are counted as a whole months for credit toward the Oversea Service Bar.

15.  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.  There is no evidence that the applicant was awarded or served in MOS 11B (Infantry) or served as a door gunner in the 191st Assault Helicopter Company.

2.  The applicant’s records show that he was awarded MOS 31B (Field Radio Mechanic) and served in that MOS throughout his assignment in Vietnam.

3.  Based on the foregoing, there is no basis for amending the applicant’s records to show that he was awarded or served in MOS 11B or was a door gunner in Vietnam.

4.  Based on the dates of his service in Vietnam, the applicant is entitled to award of two Oversea Service Bars and correction of his records to these service bars.

5.  The applicant is entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 4 March 1968 through 14 January 1970 based on completion of a period of qualifying service ending with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

6.  Orders show that the applicant was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these awards.

7.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded two Oversea Service Bars, the Good Conduct Medal for the period 4 March 1968 through 14 January 1970, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__JH___  ___RTD__  __HOF__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Ms. June Hajjar__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000044125	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20001214	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19700114	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200 . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON	OVERSEAS RETURNEE	
BOARD DECISION	(NC, GRANT , DENY, GRANT PLUS)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	MR SCHNEIDER	
ISSUES         1.	107.000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.