PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           14 NOVEMBER 2002                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002071690

	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. Deborah L. Brantley		Senior Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Arthur a. Omartian		Chairperson	
	Mr. John P. Infante		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 award of the Silver Star.  He states he received the award citation after he was separated from active duty.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty in March 1966.  While undergoing training he qualified as a marksman with the rifle and was awarded the appropriate badge and component bar.

4.  In September 1965 he was assigned to Vietnam as a medical corpsman with the 2nd Battalion, 20th Infantry.  He was awarded the Silver Star for his heroic actions on 5 December 1965.  Orders confirming the award were published in March 1966, after the applicant departed Vietnam.  He departed Vietnam in February 1966.  

5.  The applicant was released from active duty on 1 April 1966.  His award of the Silver Star was omitted from his separation document.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the National Defense Service Medal for honorable active service for any period between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954, and between 1 January 1961 and 
14 August 1974.  

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides, in pertinent part, for award of the Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM).  The Government of Vietnam awarded this medal to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States for qualifying service in Vietnam during the period 1 March 1961 through 28 March 1973.  Qualifying service included assignment in Vietnam for 6 months or service outside the geographical limits of the Republic of Vietnam that contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam and its Armed Forces.  Individuals who had qualified for award of the Vietnam Service Medal or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and were evacuated prior to completing six months of service due wounds resulting from hostile action were entitled to award of the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

8.  A review of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 indicates that the applicant's unit (2nd Battalion, 20th Infantry) was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm and participated in two designated campaign periods (Vietnam Defense Campaign and Counteroffensive) during the applicant's tenure with the unit.  His campaign participation would be reflected in bronze service stars attached to his Vietnam Service Medal.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms that the applicant was awarded the Silver Star and his records should be corrected accordingly.
2.  The evidence also shows that the applicant qualified as a marksman with the rifle and was awarded the appropriate badge and component badge.  However, that information was omitted from his records as well.

3.  The Board notes that the applicant is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, two bronze service stars on his Vietnam Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal.  His records should be corrected accordingly.

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 showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Silver Star;

b.  by showing that he qualified as a marksman with the rifle and was awarded the appropriate badge and component bar; and

c.  by showing that he is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, two bronze service stars on his Vietnam Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal.  

BOARD VOTE:  

__AAO__  __JPI ___  __RKS __  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Arthur A. Omartian____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002071690	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20021114	
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.