PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:           

	BOARD DATE:                25 April 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AR2002067502  

	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. Beverly A. Young		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Joann Langston		Chairperson	
	Mr. George D. Paxson		Member	
	Mr. Charles Gainor		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 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Purple Heart.

3.  The applicant states that he was wounded in combat in Vietnam on 4 February 1967 and requests information about his wounds.  His request for information was addressed on separate correspondence.  He submits a copy of his discharge document in support of his application.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 14 November 1966 for a period of 3 years.  He completed basic and advanced individual training and served in Vietnam from 19 May 1967 through 18 February 1968 as an infantryman.  The applicant was honorably released from active duty on 13 November 1969 in the rank of specialist four.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award.

6.  The applicant’s service personnel records contain 67th Evacuation Hospital General Orders Number 40, dated 5 February 1968, which awarded him the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in action on 4 February 1968.

7.  The Board noted that the applicant is entitled to award of the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation which are not shown on his discharge document.

8.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows entitlement to the Vietnam Service Medal.  His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he received credit for participation in the Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase II Campaign, the Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase III Campaign, and the Tet Counteroffensive Campaign in item 39 (Campaigns).

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 shows that, at the time of the applicant’s assignment to the 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, the unit was cited for award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation by Headquarters Department of the Army General Orders Number 59, dated 1969.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, authorizes award of a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation and states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate service medal.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Orders show the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds he sustained on 4 February 1968.  Therefore, his DD Form 214 will be amended to show award of the Purple Heart.

2.  Records show the applicant participated in three campaigns during his assignment in Vietnam which are not correctly shown by award of three bronze service stars for wear on his Vietnam Service Medal.  Therefore, in accordance with the governing regulation, he is entitled to the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars and correction of his DD Form 214 to show these awards.

3.  Orders show the applicant was entitled to award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation; therefore, his DD Form 214 will be amended to show this foreign unit award.

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:

a.  by deleting the Vietnam Service Medal from the DD Form 214 of individual concerned; and

b.  by showing he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.

BOARD VOTE:  

JL______  GDP____  CG______  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Joann Langston________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002067502	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020425	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	Mr. Schneider	
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.