PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:     

	BOARD DATE:           13 December 2001 
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001059926

	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:

	Mr. Samuel A. Crumper		Chairperson	
	Mr. Mark D. Manning		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 his DD Form 214, Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to show that he was awarded the Purple Heart.

3.  The applicant states that he was wounded in action on 4 July 1968 in Vietnam.  The award of the Purple Heart will assist him with his claim for treatment with the Department of Veterans Affairs for post traumatic stress disorder.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered active duty on 15 May 1967 and served as an engineer equipment repairman in Vietnam from 17 December 1967 to 13 December 1968 while assigned to the 137th Engineer Company.  He was honorably separated to the US Army Reserve on 14 May 1970 in pay grade E-5.

5.  Awards reflected on his DD Form 214 include the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with one silver service star, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Mechanics Badge and the Marksman Badge with rifle bar.  

7.  On 4 July 1968, General Orders Number 206 were issued awarding the applicant the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 3 July 1968.
 
8.  A Standard Form 600 (Chronological Record of Medical Care) reflects an entry for 3 July 1968 that indicates the applicant was treated at an aid station.

9.  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 document indicates that all units that were subordinate to Headquarters, United States Military Assistance Command are entitled to award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation based on Department of the Army General Order Number 8, dated 1974.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record establishes that the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action in Vietnam on 3 July 1968, which entitles him to the Purple Heart.  He is therefore, entitled to have it shown on his DD Form 214.

2. The applicant’s unit was a subordinate unit of Headquarters, United States Military Assistance Command.  Therefore, he is entitled to have the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation shown on his DD Form 214.

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 by:

a.  showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in Vietnam on 3 July 1968; and

b.  showing he was awarded the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.

BOARD VOTE:  

___mdm  _____rks__  ___sac__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_________Samuel A. Crumper_____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001059926	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20011213	
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.