PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            29 March 2001     
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000049851

	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	
	Ms. Deborah L. Brantley		Senior Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Mr. Christopher J. Prosser		Member	
	Mr. Lester Echols		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 that his records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal and 26 awards of the Air Medal.  He states the awards were omitted from his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge).  In support of his request he submits a copy of his Purple Heart and Air Medal citations and a copy of a DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards) showing he was authorized issue of the Army Good Conduct Medal in January 1971.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty on 16 January 1967 and served in Vietnam for nearly 14 months between 1968 and 1969.

4.  On 11 April 1969 the applicant was "slightly wounded in action…by small arms fire while [serving as a] crew chief on a military aircraft which was at a landing zone when attacked by a hostile force."  The combat wound is confirmed in a Western Union Telegram to the applicant's parents and in item 40 (wounds) on his DA Form 20 (enlisted qualification record).  Although there are no orders in the applicant's record which confirms the award, according to his award citation it was awarded on 12 April 1969.

5.  On 2 January 1969 the applicant was awarded his first Air Medal.  The award was confirmed in orders issued by the 1st Aviation Brigade.  On 2 May 1969 the 1st Aviation Brigade issued orders confirming that the applicant had been awarded 25 additional Air Medals (1st through 25th oak leaf cluster).

6.  On 19 August 1969 the applicant was honorably discharged from active duty following his return to the United States from Vietnam.  He was separated in pay grade E-5.  His conduct and efficiency ratings throughout his military service were excellent and there is no evidence of any misconduct.  Although the applicant's DD Form 214 does reflect award of one Air Medal it does not reflect award of the Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal or his additional Air Medals.

7.  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.  Current practice requires that the commander provide written notice of nonfavorable consideration and permits the individual to respond.  There is no evidence in the applicant's official military personnel file that his commander ever disqualified him for award of the Good Conduct Medal.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms that the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action while in Vietnam and awarded the Purple Heart.  The evidence also confirms that he was awarded 26 awards of the Air Medal.  His records should be corrected accordingly.

2.  The applicant completed a qualifying period for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal on 19 August 1969 when he was honorably discharged.  There is no evidence of any misconduct during the applicant's term of service and as such the Board concludes it would be appropriate and in the interest of justice to award him the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 16 January 1967 through 19 August 1969.

3.  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:

a.  by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained on 11 April 1969 while in Vietnam;

b.  by showing that he was awarded 26 Air Medals; and

c.  by awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 
16 January 1967 through 19 August 1969.

BOARD VOTE:  

___jns__  ___cjp__  ___le___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000049851	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20010339	
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.