MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           29 August 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002073534

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Nancy L. Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Margaret K. Patterson		Chairperson	
	Mr. Christopher J. Prosser		Member	
	Mr. Harry B. Oberg		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  Reconsideration of his request for award of the Air Medal.

APPLICANT STATES:  That he is providing more evidence to show that his unit participated extensively in combat assaults.  The Board should bear in mind that this evidence refers to only three days of operations -- his unit was active for almost one year.

NEW EVIDENCE OR INFORMATION:  Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in a memorandum prepared to reflect the Board's original consideration of his case on 4 November 1999 (docket number AR1999024034).

The applicant provides an extract from an internet site which shows that the         1st Battalion, 27th Infantry was involved in combat assaults on 21, 23, and           24 November 1966.

An extract from the unit history website of the 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division shows that the unit was considered one of the 25th Infantry
Division's most effective units during its five-year stay in Vietnam.

When the applicant departed Vietnam in December 1966, he had participated in two campaigns -- the Vietnam Counteroffensive and the Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase II.  His Report of Transfer or Discharge, DD Form 214, shows that he is authorized the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze service star.

At the time, U.S. Army Vietnam (USARV) Regulation 672-1 provided that individuals who traveled by aircraft from point to point for the purpose of participating in combat assaults were eligible for the award of the Air Medal for achievement after completion of 25 assault missions.  For personnel transported by aircraft, a combat assault mission was defined as a mission where friendly troops conducted the initial landings into a hostile area for the purpose of conducting combat or combat support operations.  A passenger may have received credit for one mission for each assault landing completed.  Normally, missions flown by personnel assigned to nonaviation units would have been recorded on USARV Form 131 by the individual and signed by the certifying officer.

Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 shows that the 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry was awarded the Valorous Unit Award for the period January - April 1966, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation for the period January 1966 - August 1968, and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class Unit Citation for the period 1 January 1966 - 21 January 1970.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  The Board acknowledges that the applicant's unit was highly active in combat during its, and his, time in Vietnam.  Unfortunately, the evidence he provides does not substantiate that he, personally, was involved in those combat assaults and there is no USARV Form 131 available which might corroborate his claim.  Therefore, there is insufficient evidence to show he met the eligibility criteria for award of the Air Medal.

2.  The applicant was credited with two campaigns and so is authorized to wear two bronze service stars on the Vietnam Service Medal.  In addition, he was assigned to a unit during a period of time that unit was awarded the Valorous Unit Award, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class Unit Citation.  He is authorized to wear these unit awards, also.

3.  The overall merits of the case, including the latest submissions and arguments, are insufficient as a basis for the Board to reverse its previous decision.

4.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

NOTE:  The Army Review Boards Agency Support Division will be directed to amend the applicant's DD Form 214 to show he is authorized two bronze service stars on the Vietnam Service Medal and to add the Valorous Unit Award, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class Unit Citation.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__MKP__  __CJP __  _ _HBO__  DENY APPLICATION

		    Carl W. S. Chun
		    Director, Army Board for Correction
    of Military Records

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002073534	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	2002/08/29	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0018	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.