PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            31 January 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001062100

	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. Jessie B. Strickland		Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Elzey J. Arledge, Jr.		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 records be corrected to reflect that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) with “V” device and two oak leaf clusters (OLC).

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his records incorrectly reflect that he was awarded the BSM with “V” device and one OLC and should reflect two OLCs. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in Bismarck, North Dakota on 30 August 1968 for a period of 2 years.   He successfully completed his training and was transferred to Vietnam on 26 February 1969, for duty as a light weapons infantryman.  He was assigned to Company F, 75th Ranger Battalion.

5.  His records show that he was awarded the BSM on 29 August 1969 and again on 19 October 1969.  He was promoted to the pay grade of E-5 on 8 January 1970.  He was awarded the BSM with “V” device on 8 February 1970 for an action that occurred on 9 January 1970, which resulted in his being wounded and being awarded the Purple Heart (PH). 

6.  He departed Vietnam on 2 April 1970 and was transferred to Oakland Army Base, California where he was honorably released from active duty as an overseas returnee.  He had served 1 year, 7 months and 5 days of total active service and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the BSM with “V” device and one OLC, the PH and the Army Commendation Medal with “V” device and one OLC.

7.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 provides a by-unit listing of unit campaign and campaign participation.  It shows that the applicant’s unit received awards of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm (RVNGC w/palm) Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal – First Class (RVNCAHM – FC) for actions during the period in which the applicant was assigned.  The awards were authorized subsequent to the applicant’s departure from Vietnam.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides Department of the Army policy for the administration of individual military decorations.  It provides, in pertinent part, that oak leaf clusters are issued to denote award of second and succeeding awards of decorations.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s contention that he was awarded the BSM with “V” device and two OLCs is supported by the evidence of record.  The applicant clearly was awarded three awards of the BSM and his records should be corrected accordingly.

2.  Additionally, the evidence of record also shows that the applicant’s unit was authorized awards of the RVNGC w/palm Unit Citation and the RVNCAHM – FC, subsequent to his departure, for the period in which he served with that unit.  Accordingly, his records should have been corrected to reflect his authorization for those awards. 

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 showing that the individual concerned was awarded the BSM with “V” Device and 2 OLCs and by awarding him the RVNGC w/palm Unit Citation and the RVNCAHM – FC.

BOARD VOTE:  

___rvo __  __rks ___  ___elj ___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001062100	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	2002/01/31	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  60	107.0014/BSM	
2.  140	107.0094/RVNGC	
3.  141	107.0095/RVNCAHM	
4.		
5.		
6.