PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           1 February 2001                             
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC2000047501

	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. W.W. Osborn, Jr. 		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Luther L. Santiful		Chairperson	
	Mr. James E. Anderholm		Member	
	Ms. Barbara J. 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, in effect, requests that his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected by showing all of his authorized awards and that block 12 (Last Duty Assignment) be changed to show D Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. 

3.  The applicant states that he earned the “Crew Chief Wings” while in training for his military occupational specialty of 67N20 (Helicopter Repairman).  He submits copies of the orders and certificate for the Air Medal to substantiate his case.

4.  The applicant enlisted and entered active duty on 10 February 1967.  He completed training as a helicopter mechanic in March 1968 and, after a brief assignment at Fort Hood, he served in Vietnam from 22 July 1968 to 4 January 1969.  He returned to the United States and was separated in pay grade E-5.  He was released from active duty early as an overseas returnee with an honorable characterization of service.  

5.  The authorized awards listed on his DD Form 214 are the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal [with 1960 – device].  However his record contains orders authorizing the Expert Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar and the Sharpshooter Qualification Badge with Pistol Bar.

6.  His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows his last permanent duty station as D Troop, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division as does his DD Form 214.  

7.  Orders awarding the applicant the Air Medal for the period 12 August to 
24 November 1968 and promotion orders promoting him to pay grade E-5 and several other documents show him assigned to D Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne (Airmobile) Division.  A 5 October 1968 disposition form from Commanding Officer, D Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne (Airmobile) Division to Commanding Officer, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne (Airmobile) Division reads “I recommend [the applicant] a member of this troop be promoted to pay grade 
E-5, as a Crew Chief, MOS 67N20.”  A 24 October 1968 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry  pay grade E5 to E6 merit roster shows the applicant assigned to 
D Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry.

8.  The applicant’s conduct and efficiency ratings were exclusively excellent during his entire enlistment.

9.  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.  A record of punishment is not automatically disqualifying.  However, at that time, a single efficiency rating of less than excellent was disqualifying.  Although there is no automatic entitlement to the Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified.  Current practice requires that the commander provide written notice of nonfavorable consideration and permits the individual to respond.  At that time, nonfavorable consideration was normally noted on the DA Form 20.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, also provides in pertinent part, that an Aircraft Crew Member Badge may be awarded by any commander of a unit with aircraft assigned to individuals in a flying status as crewmembers and to non-crewmembers who hold principal assignments as observers, medical aidmen, gunners, maintenance supervisors or technical inspectors.  Army Regulation 611-201 (Enlisted Career Management and MOS’s) shows that the Special Qualification Indicator, [which is shown as a suffix to the MOS number] “F” indicates “Flying Status” and applies to individuals whose duties require frequent repetitive aerial flights.  There is not, nor was there ever, a “Crew Chief Badge.”

11.  Department of the Army General Orders 8 of 1974 awarded the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation Badge to Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam and subordinate units for the period 20 July 1965 to 
28 March 1973.

12.  Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Register) indicates that the 1st Squadron, 1st Calvary was awarded the Valorous Unit Award for the period from 24 August to 25 September1968.   

13.  Army Regulation 800-8-22 provides that a bronze service star is authorized for wear on the Vietnam Service Medal and shows that the Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase V began on 1 July 1968 and ended on 1 November 1968.  It was followed by the Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase IV which ended 22 February 1969.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was attached to one unit and assigned to another.  His DD Form 214, block 12 should be changed to show D Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne (Airmobile) Division, the unit with which he actually performed duty.

2.  In addition to the awards shown on his DD Form 214, the applicant was awarded the Air Medal, the Expert Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar and the Sharpshooter Qualification Badge with Pistol Bar.  He also earned the Good Conduct Medal, the Aircraft Crew Member Badge, the Valorous Unit Award, the RVN Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation Badge, and two bronze service stars for his Vietnam Service Medal. 

3.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, correcting the applicant’s records as recommended below would rectify an injustice.

RECOMMENDATION:  

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by:

a.  amending the DD Form 214 of the individual concerned to show that he last served in “D Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne (Airmobile) Division” as the Last Duty Assignment; and 

b.  showing that his authorized awards include the Air Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, two bronze service stars for wear on the Vietnam Service Medal, the Valorous Unit Award, the RVN Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation Badge, the Aircraft Crew Member Badge, the Expert Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar, and the Sharpshooter Qualification Badge with Pistol Bar.

BOARD VOTE:

_LLS____  ___JEA_  __BJL___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_    _Luther L. Santiful____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000047501	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20010201	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	MODIFY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.