PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           7 August 2001                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001056487

	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	
	Mrs. Nancy Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Margaret K. Patterson		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas B. Redfern, III		Member	
	Ms. Regan K. Smith		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 he be awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he served in Vietnam as an infantryman and that his conduct and efficiency ratings were excellent in all unit assignments. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army on 28 July 1961.  He was honorably discharged on 27 September 1961 for the purpose of immediately reenlisting on 28 September 1961 for 4 years.  He completed basic combat training and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupational specialty 11B (Light Weapons Infantryman).

5.  The applicant was assigned to Company C, 2d Battalion, 327th Infantry, Fort Campbell, KY as a grenadier when the unit was reassigned to Vietnam, arriving on or about 8 July 1965.  He performed duties as a grenadier in Vietnam.  He departed Vietnam on 16 September 1965.  He received campaign credit for the Vietnam Defense Campaign (8 March – 24 December 1965).

6.  The applicant was released from active duty on 21 September 1965.  His Service Record, DA Form 24, shows that he was given excellent or unknown conduct and efficiency ratings throughout his service.  

7.  Army Regulation 672-5-1, in effect at the time, provided policy and criteria concerning individual military decorations.  In pertinent part, it provided for the award of the Army Good Conduct Medal for each 3 years of continuous enlisted active Federal military service completed on or after 27 August 1940.  At the time, a soldier’s conduct and efficiency ratings must have been rated as “excellent” for the entire period of qualifying service.  It provided, in pertinent part, for the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge to a soldier who was an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, who was assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit was engaged in active ground combat, and had actively participated in such ground combat.   It provided, in pertinent part, for award of the Vietnam Service Medal.  This medal is awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States for qualifying service in Vietnam after 3 July 1965 - 28 March 1973.  Qualifying service included attachment to or assignment for 1 or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations.  In pertinent part, it authorized award of a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in this regulation and stated that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate service medal.

8.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 shows that the 2d Battalion, 327th Infantry was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for the period 19 July 1965 – 1 October 1966.  Later, all units assigned to Vietnam were awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.
CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows that the applicant met the eligibility criteria for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze service star.  He was assigned to a unit during a period of time that unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation and which was later awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm; therefore, he is entitled to wear those awards, also.

2.  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 applicant the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 28 July 1961 – 27 July 1964 and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

2.  That the applicant’s Report of Transfer or Discharge, DD Form 214, be amended to add the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze service star.

BOARD VOTE:  

__mkp___  __tbr___  __rks___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			Margaret K. Patterson
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001056487	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20010807	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0034	
2.	107.0056	
3.	107.0111	
4.		
5.		
6.