PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:    

	BOARD DATE:           20 November 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001057601

	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. Walter Avery, Jr.		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Jennifer L. Prater		Chairperson	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		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 correction of his DD Form 214, Report of Transfer or Discharge, to show award of the Air Medal.

3.  The applicant states that his DD Form 214 does not reflect the Air Medal.

4.  In support of his request, he submits a copy of a certificate reflecting his award of the Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight in the Republic of Vietnam during the period 6 December 1967 to 29 December 1967.

5.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered onto active duty in the Regular Army on 12 January 1967, completed training and served as a 67N, Crew Chief, in Vietnam, for the period 20 August 1967 to 18 August 1969, while assigned to the 175th Aviation Company.  He was honorably separated to the   US Army Reserve on 18 August 1969 in pay grade E- 3.

6.  Special Orders 67, dated 7 March 1968, assigned the applicant duty as a Nonaviator-Crewmember, Crew Chief.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that one bronze service star is authorized for the Vietnam Service Medal for each campaign when assigned or attached to and present for duty with a unit during the period in which it participated in combat, or was under order to such unit in a combat zone. The applicant served during seven campaign periods.

8.  The same regulation provides 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.

9.  The same regulation provides that the Aircraft Crew Member Badge may be permanently awarded for successful completion of formal advanced individual training in career management field 67 military occupational specialties.

10.  DA Pamphlet 672-3, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, lists units, their unit citations, battle credit and foreign awards.  The register shows that the 175th Aviation Company was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There are no orders available to the Board, which authorize award of the Air Medal to the applicant.  His records do reflect he served as a crew chief and the applicant has provided an award certificate.  The certificate is properly authenticated and shows the applicant was awarded the Air Medal in Vietnam.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his records to show award of the Air Medal.

2.  The applicant completed training in and served as a 67N.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show award of the Aircraft Crew Member Badge.

3.  He is authorized the Vietnam Service Medal with one silver and two bronze service stars (representing participation in seven campaigns) and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm based on his service with the 175th Aviation Company in Vietnam.  It would be appropriate therefore to add these awards to his DD Form 214.

4.  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 by:

a.  showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Air Medal for the period 6 December 1967 to 29 December 1967; and

b.  showing that he was awarded the Aircraft Crew Member Badge, the Vietnam Service Medal with one silver and two bronze service stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm.

BOARD VOTE:  

___rks _  ____mhm_  ____jlp__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__________Jennifer L. Prater______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001057601	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20011120	
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.