PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:           

	BOARD DATE:                13 March 2001              
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR2000050485

	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. Beverly A. Young		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. June Hajjar		Chairperson	
	Mr. Donald P. Hupman		Member	
	Mr. John T. Meixell		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 DD Form 214 (Report or Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Air Medal.

3.  The applicant states that item 24 on his DD Form 214 should list the Air Medal that he was awarded.  In support of his application, he submits an award certificate for the Air Medal, non-aviator crewmember duty orders and a copy of his DD Form 214.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted on 4 May 1966, completed training as a powerman and served in Vietnam from 30 April 1967 through 26 April 1968.  The applicant was honorably released from active duty on 27 April 1968.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show the Air Medal as an authorized award.  The Board noted that the applicant is entitled to award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation which is also not shown on his discharge document.

6.  There are no orders in the applicant’s personnel records which show he was awarded the Air Medal.  His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) does not list the Air Medal in item 41 (Awards and Decorations).

7.  The applicant provided a copy of Headquarters, U.S. Army Vietnam Special Orders Number 67, dated 7 March 1968.  These orders show that he performed duties as a non-aviator crewmember in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment effective 15 November 1967.  There is no record of flight hours in the applicant’s personnel records.

8.  The applicant provided a copy of an award certificate, dated 14 July 1968, for award of the basic Air Medal.  This certificate was authenticated by a Commanding General of the 9th Infantry Division.  Records show the applicant served with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment while assigned in the Republic of Vietnam, but there is no evidence that he was assigned or attached to the 9th Infantry Division during his service in Vietnam.

9.  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 60, dated 1969.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Air Medal is awarded in time of war for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service while participating in aerial flight.  This award is primarily intended for personnel on flying status, but may also be awarded to those personnel whose combat duties require them to fly, for example personnel in the attack elements of units involved in air-land assaults against an armed enemy.  As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-104 (Military Personnel Information Management and Records) prescribes the policies governing the Official Military Personnel File, the Military Personnel Records Jacket, the Career Management Individual File, and Army Personnel Qualification Records.  In pertinent part, this regulation states that for U.S. military decorations the only acceptable source documentation is the order, letter, or memorandum which awards the decoration. Award certificates, citations, or separation certificates alone will not be the basis for entry of a decoration.  DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge) alone should not be the sole basis for recording a decoration.  This document may be used to initially enter a decoration; however, if the validity of the award on the DD Form 214 is questioned or challenged, the only acceptable proof of award of the decorations will be the order, letter, or memorandum which awarded the decoration.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board considered the award certificate submitted by the applicant in support of his claim for award of the Air Medal.  However, in accordance with the governing regulation, this certificate is not sufficient, by itself, for correction of his DD Form 214 to show award of the Air Medal.  Also, the applicant submitted an award certificate from a unit with which he did not serve based on his records.

2.  The applicant was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show this award.

3.  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 the individual concerned was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

JH______  DPH____  JTM_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		June Hajjar___________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000050485	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20010313    	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT IN PART	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0018	
2.	107.0094	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.