PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           7 December 2000 
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000045806

	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. William Blakely		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor		Chairperson	
	Mr. John P. Infante		Member	
	Mr. Ernest W. Lutz		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, correction to his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer Or Discharge) to show that he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.

3.  The applicant states that while serving in Vietnam he volunteered for temporary duty and upon return to his unit he was processing out.  

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered active duty on 8 April 1969 as a combat engineer.  He served in Vietnam from 14 March 1970 to 
16 February 1971.  He was honorably released from active duty on 18 February 1971 in the pay grade of E-5.

5.  The applicant’s separation document does not show the Army Commendation Medal.

6.  The applicant provided a copy of the award certificate and citation which shows he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service while assigned to the 20th Engineer Brigade in the Republic of Vietnam during the period August 1970 to March 1971.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There are no orders available to the Board which authorize award of the Army Commendation Medal to the applicant.  However, there is evidence submitted by the applicant which shows that he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal. Upon review, the Board has determined that this evidence is sufficient as basis for correction of his records to show this award.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his records to show the Army Commendation Medal.

2.  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 

by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for the period August 1970 to March 1971.

BOARD VOTE:  

__RVO__  __JPI___  __EWL___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Raymond V. O’Connor__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	A2000045806	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20001207	
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.