PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            30 January 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000047661

	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. Joseph A. Adriance		Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		Chairperson	
	Ms. Brenda F. Hirschi		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, in effect, that his record be corrected to show he earned the following awards and decorations:  Combat Parachutist; Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC); Presidential Unit Citation (PUC); and that he completed Ranger training.   

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he earned the awards and completed the training indicated, which warrants this information being made a part of his permanent record. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that on 31 March 1966 he was inducted into the Army of the United States for two years.  He successfully completed basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, advanced individual training at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and the basic airborne course at Fort Benning, Georgia.  Upon completion of his training he was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 11C (Infantry Indirect Fire Crewman) with the additional skill identifier (ASI) of 
P (Parachutist) and he was assigned to Vietnam for his first permanent duty station. 

5.  The applicant’s Department of the Army (DA) Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) confirms that arrived in Vietnam on 16 January 1967 and that he was assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173 Infantry Brigade (Separate).  He performed duties as an infantryman/ammunition bearer with this same unit his entire time in Vietnam and departed there on 24 August 1967.  

6.  The applicant’s Military Personnel Records Jacket (MPRJ) contains a copy of General Order (GO) Number 444, dated 12 March 1967, issued by Headquarters 173rd Infantry Brigade (Separate), which indicates that applicant was one of several individuals who had participated in a parachute jump against an armed hostile force during Operation Junction City on 22 February 1967 in the vicinity of Katum, in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN).  As a result, the order authorized the members listed in the GO be awarded the Bronze Star Appurtnenance to the Parachutist Badge.  

7.  A Department of Defense (DD) Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) on file verifies that on 25 August 1967 the applicant was honorably separated from active duty, by reason of hardship discharge, after completing 1 year, 4 months, and 25 days of active military service.  

8.  The DD Form 214 also indicates that the applicant earned the following awards and decorations during his tenure on active duty:  Parachutist Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, and Vietnam Campaign Medal.  A correction to the DD Form 214
(DD Form 215), issued on 23 February 1991, added the Army Commendation Medal to his separation document.

9.  Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) establishes the eligibility of individual members for campaign participation credit, assault landing credit, and unit citation badges awarded during the Vietnam Conflict.  Table 1 contains a list of Army units in numerical order and shows the specific types of awards earned by the unit, the period for the award, and the document authorizing the award.  

10.  This pamphlet verifies that the applicant’s unit received the following unit awards during the period he was assigned:  PUC, for participation in an operation in the vicinity of Katum, RVN on 22 Feb 67, authorized by DAGO 18, 78, as amended in 48, published in 1971 and the MUC for the period 5 May 1965-4 May 1967, authorized in DAGO 48, published in 1968.

11.  In addition, the register shows that the applicant’s unit was authorized the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC/wPalm) for the period 
5 May 1965 through 26 September 1970 as authorized by Department of the Army General Order (DAGO) 51, published in 1971 and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal (RVNCAHM) for the period 15 April 1969 through 
16 March 1971 as authorized by DAGO 5, published in 1973.

12.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual military awards.  Paragraph 
8-10 contains guidance pertaining to the Parachutist Badge and states, in pertinent part, that a bronze service star is authorized to be worn on the Parachutist Badge to denote a soldier's participation in a combat parachute jump. 

13.  Paragraph 8-46 contains guidance on awarding the Ranger Tab.  It establishes the basic eligibility criteria for award of the Ranger Tab as the successful completion of a Ranger course conducted by the U.S. Army Infantry School; any person who was awarded the CIB while serving during World War II as a member of a Ranger Battalion; or any person who successfully completed a Ranger course conducted by the Ranger Training Command at Fort Benning, GA.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board noted the applicant’s contentions and finds all but the claim to a Ranger training completion have merit. 
2.  There is no evidence to suggest the applicant completed Ranger training while on active duty.  His MPRJ does contain a copy of GO Number 444, dated 12 March 1967, which confirms his entitlement to the bronze service star for his Parachutist Badge based on his participation in a parachute jump against an armed hostile force, on 22 February 1967, in the vicinity of Katum, RVN.  This DAGO also verifies his entitlement to the PUC earned by elements of his unit for its participation in this operation as codified in DA Pamphlet 670-3.

3.  Further, DA Pamphlet 670-3 confirms that the applicant’s unit was awarded the MUC; RVNGC/wPalm; and  RVNCAHM during his tenure in Vietnam, which entitles him to these awards.  Thus, although they were authorized in DAGOs subsequent to his separation, the Board finds that it would appropriate and in the interest of justice and equity to provide him these awards at this time. 

4.  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 individual concerned a bronze service star to his Parachutist Badge for his participation in a parachute jump against an armed hostile force, on 22 February 1967, in the vicinity of Katum, RVN; by awarding him the PUC, MUC, RVNGC/wPalm; and RVNCAHM, earned by his unit during his tenure in Vietnam; and by issuing him a corrected separation document that reflects these changes. 

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

BOARD VOTE:  

___ao___  __bfh____  __teo___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Arthur A. Omartian_____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000047661	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	2001/01/30	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	1967/08/67	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON	Hardship Discharge 	
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  46 	107.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.