PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            16 JANUARY 2003                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002073834

	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. Kenneth H. Aucock		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		Member	
	Ms. Marla J. N. Troup		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 award of the Purple Heart. 

3.  The applicant states that he would be enrolled in a higher priority group by the VA if his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) showed that he was awarded the Purple Heart.  He submits with his request a copy of a certificate awarding him the Purple Heart, and a copy of a medical progress report indicating that he sustained a shrapnel wound in Vietnam.   

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army on 28 February 1966, trained as an infantryman, and was awarded the Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with automatic rifle bar, the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with rifle bar, and the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with machine gun bar.

5.   In October 1966 the applicant was assigned to the 3d Battalion, 7th Infantry of the 199th Infantry Brigade at Fort Benning, Georgia.  In December of that year he transferred with his unit to Vietnam.  He returned to the United States and was released from active duty on 4 December 1967.  During his tour in Vietnam he was promoted to sergeant and awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.  Orders published by the 199th show that he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 19 November 1967.  He participated in two campaigns and the 3d Battalion, 7th Infantry was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation for its actions while the applicant was assigned to that organization. 

6.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show award of the Purple Heart and does not reflect his participation in two campaigns.  It does not show that he qualified with the automatic rifle or the machine gun.  His DD Form 214 also does not show award of the Army Good Conduct Medal.

7.  The Army Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  This period is 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the termination of a period of Federal military service.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was wounded in action in Vietnam and was awarded the Purple Heart.  His DD Form 214 should reflect this award.

2.  The applicant served his country faithfully and honorably.  He is entitled to award of the Army Good Conduct Medal. 

3.  The applicant qualified as a marksman with the automatic rifle and as an expert with the machine gun.  This information should be shown on his             DD Form 214.

4.  The applicant participated in two campaigns in Vietnam.  His DD Form 214 should show award of the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars (one for each campaign).  The applicant is entitled to award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation. 

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 that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with automatic rifle bar, the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with machine gun bar, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation. 

BOARD VOTE:  

__RVO__  ___AAO_  __MJNT _  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002073834	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20030116	
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.