PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            31 JULY 2003                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2003083628

	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:

	Ms. Gail J. Wire		Chairperson	
	Ms. Karen A. Heinz		Member	
	Mr. Robert L. Duecaster		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 Bronze Star Medal with "V" device.  In support of his request he submits a copy of his 1969 certificate awarding him the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement.  He states that he earned the award, but it was not recorded on his separation document.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate that the applicant entered active duty on 22 March 1968.  While undergoing training he qualified as a sharpshooter with the automatic rifle (M-16), as an expert with the rifle (M-14), and as a first class gunner with the machinegun (M-60).  He was awarded the associated badges and component bars, but the information was omitted from his separation document.

4.  The applicant was assigned to Vietnam between September 1968 and September 1969.  He was assigned to Company E, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade while in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service.  His award of the Bronze Star Medal was confirmed in orders issued by the Americal Division in August 1969.  The award, however, was omitted from his separation document.

5.  The historical file of the 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade, maintained at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland failed to confirm that the applicant had been awarded the Bronze Star Medal with "V" for valor, but did further confirm his award of the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 states that the Bronze Star Medal may be awarded to recognize meritorious service, achievement, or heroic actions.  When awarded for a heroic action, the Bronze Star Medal is awarded with a "V" device to denote that the award was for valor.  Awards for meritorious service generally recognize and individuals performance over a sustained period of time, whereas an award for achievement is generally limited a single act or several acts, not involving heroism, during a short period a time.

7.  A review of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 notes that the applicant's unit (Company E, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade) was awarded a Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation, two awards of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and participated in four designated campaign periods (Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase V and VI, TET 69 Counteroffensive, and Vietnam Summer-Fall, 1969) while he was a member of the organization.  The unit awards, and four bronze service stars on his Vietnam Service Medal, denoting his campaign participation were omitted from his separation document.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Although the applicant indicates that he was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with "V" device, in actuality the award was for meritorious service, not valor.  There is no evidence he was ever recommended for, or awarded a Bronze Star Medal for valor.

2.  Although his award certificate indicates the award was for achievement, the orders confirming the award indicate it was for meritorious service.  Based on the length of service recognized by the award, the Board concludes that the award, as confirmed by the award orders, was for meritorious service.  His records should be corrected accordingly.

3.  The evidence also confirms that the applicant qualified as a sharpshooter with the automatic rifle (M-16), as an expert with the rifle (M-14), and as a first class gunner with the machinegun (M-60), and that he was awarded the associated badges and component bars.  His records should be corrected accordingly.

4.  The Board also notes that the applicant is entitled to a Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation, two awards of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and four bronze service stars on his Vietnam Service Medal.

5.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  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 Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service during the period September 1968 to September 1969;

b.  by showing that he qualified as a sharpshooter with the automatic rifle (M-16), as an expert with the rifle (M-14), and as a first class gunner with the machinegun (M-60), and that he was awarded the associated badges and component bars; and

c.  by showing that he is entitled to a Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation, two awards of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and four bronze service stars on his Vietnam Service Medal.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

___GJW     ___KAH_  ___RLD_  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______Gail J. Wire_______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003083628	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20030731	
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.