PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:     
	
	BOARD DATE:           20 December 2001                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001053864

	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. Stephanie Thompkins		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas B. Redfern, III		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, in effect, award of 19 Air Medals.

3.  The applicant states that the criteria for receiving Air Medal in 1971 was one medal for every 25 hours of combat flight time.  He has 470 hours of combat flight time.  He submits copies of his Individual Flight Records and Flight Certificate (DD Form 759) in support of his request.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered into the Regular Army as a private pay grade E-1 on 28 April 1970.  He was awarded primary military occupational specialty (MOS) 67A10 Aircraft Maintenance on 22 October 1970.

5.  His records also show that he was assigned as door gunner on 19 January 1971.

6.  Individual Flight Record and Flight Certificates show the applicant accrued 470 total hours of combat flight hours January 1971 to November 1971.

7.  He was honorably released from active duty as an Overseas Returnee, in pay grade E-4, on 17 December 1971 and transferred to the USAR.

8.  His awards included the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device 60, Overseas Bar, the Aircraft Crewman Badge, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Marksman Badge M-16.  

9.  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 alto 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.  This regulation also specifies that Arabic numerals are issued instead of a medal for second and succeeding awards of the Air Medal.  The ribbon denotes the first award and numerals stating with the numeral 2 denote the number of additional awards.

10.  U. S. Army Vietnam (USARV) Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) provided, in pertinent part, guidelines for award of the Air Medal.  It established that passenger personnel who did not participate in an air assault were not eligible for the award based upon sustained operations.  It defines terms and provided guidelines for the award based upon the number and types of missions or hours.  Twenty-five Category I missions (air assault and equally dangerous missions) and accrual of a minimum of 25 hours of flight time while engaged in 

Category I missions was the standard established for which sustained operations were deemed worthy of recognition by an award of the Air Medal.  However, the regulation was clear that these guidelines were considered only a departure point.  Nothing created an entitlement to the award.

11.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists the unit awards received by units serving in Vietnam.  This documents shows the unit to which the applicant was assigned was cited for award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation by Department of the Army General Order Number 8, dated 1974.  It also shows that Department of the Army General Order Number 42, dated 1972, awarded the unit the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class Unit Citation.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board concludes that the applicant’s position as a non-crewmember and his participation in aerial flights as a door gunner from January through November 1971 entitled him to multiple awards of the Air Medal.

2.  The Board further concludes that the applicant’s accrual of 470 combat flight hours entitles him to 18 awards of the Air Medal, correctly known as the Air Medal with Numeral “18”.  

3.  The applicant’s records also show he was issued the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.  Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this award.

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:

a.  by awarding to the individual concerned the Air Medal with Numeral “18”; and

	b.  by showing award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation on his DD Form 214.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

_jns____  _le_____  _tbr____      GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			John N. Slone
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001053854	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20011220	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.