PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           24 January 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001062068

	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. Lisa O. Guion		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. George D. Paxson		Chairperson	
	Mr. Walter T. Morrison		Member	
	Mr. Richard T. Dunbar		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, that the Purple Heart (PH) and all other awards to which he is entitled be added to his separation document.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his separation document does not show his award of the PH and that perhaps he is authorized to wear other awards not shown on his separation document.  In support of his request, he submits a copy of his Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge
(DD Form 214), and a copy of the General Orders (GO) awarding him the PH.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that on 27 July 1964, he entered the Army and that he continuously served on active duty until being honorably separated on 19 July 1969.

5.  The record also shows that the applicant served in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) for 28 months.  He arrived in the RVN on March 1967, and he was assigned to Company E, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division.  During his assignment tenure, he participated in 8 campaigns.  

6.  In July 1969, he was reassigned to Fort Lewis, Washington, for separation processing and on 19 July 1969, he was honorably released from active duty and transferred to the United States Army Reserve.  The DD Form 214 issued to the applicant on the date of his separation, shows that he earned the following awards during his active duty tenure:  National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Sharpshooter Marksmanship 
Badge-M14 Rifle, and 3 Overseas Service Bars.

7.  The applicant’s Military Personnel Records Jacket (MPRJ) contains a copy of General Orders (GO) Number (#) 3234, dated 20 June 1969, issued by Headquarters, 4th Infantry Division.  This document confirms that he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action against a hostile force on 11 June 1969, while serving as a sergeant in the RVN. 

8.  The applicant’s MPRJ also contains a copy of GO # 3858, dated 7 July 1969, issued by Headquarters, 4th Infantry Division.  This document awarded him the Army Good Conduct Medal for exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity for the period 6 May 1965 to 5 May 1968.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual military awards.  Paragraph 2-8 contains the regulatory guidance pertaining to awarding the PH.  It states, in pertinent part, that the PH is awarded to any member wounded or killed while engaged in action against an armed enemy or hostile force.  

10.  Paragraph 2-13 contains guidance on awarding the Vietnam Service Medal and it states, in pertinent part, a bronze service star is authorized with this medal to denote each campaign a member unit participated in while serving in the RVN and that a silver service star is authorized in lieu of five bronze service stars.

11.  Paragraph 4-1 provides that the AGCM is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  The normal qualifying period for award of the AGCM is 3 years.

12.  Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) provides guidance on determining or establishing the eligibility of individual members for campaign participation credit, assault landing credit, and unit citation badges awarded during the Vietnam Conflict.  Table 1 confirms that during his tenure in the RVN, the applicant’s unit was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record confirms that the applicant was awarded the PH for wounds he received in action on 11 June 1969, while serving as a sergeant in the RVN.  Therefore, the Board concludes that this award should be added to his record at this time.

2.  The evidence of record also confirms that the applicant was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal for his honorable period of service from 6 May 1965 to 5 May 1968.  Thus, the Board concludes that it would also be appropriate to add this award to his record at this time. 

3.  Further, the Board notes that although the applicant was previously awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, during his assignment tenure in the RVN, he participated in eight campaigns, which entitles him to one silver service star and three bronze service stars with this award that were omitted from his record.  Thus, the Board concludes that his military records should be corrected to show he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal with 1 silver service star and 
3 bronze service stars. 

4.  In addition, during the review of this case the Board discovered that the applicant is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation based on his service with the 14th Infantry Regiment.  Therefore, the Board concludes the applicant is entitled to have these awards added to his record. 

5.  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 showing the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation, and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation; by awarding him 1 silver service star and 3 bronze service stars to be worn on his Vietnam Service Medal; and by issuing him a corrected separation document that reflects these changes.  

BOARD VOTE:  

__GDP__   _ _WTM__  __RTD     GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		    __George D. Paxson__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001062068	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	2002/01/24	
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.	107.0000	
2.	107.0015	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.