PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           10 June 2003                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002083938

	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. Edmund P. Mercanti		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Samuel A.Crumpler		Chairperson	
	Mr. Shirley L. Powell		Member	
	Mr. John T. Meixell		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 separation document be corrected to show that he was awarded two Presidential Unit Citations (PUC’s), and that he be awarded a bronze service star for wear on his already awarded Parachutist Badge.

3.  The applicant states he has orders for the bronze service star for wear on his already awarded Parachutist Badge and provides a copy of that order with his application.  He continues that he knows that his unit was awarded two PUC’s when he was assigned to Vietnam.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 5 July 1966, was awarded the military occupational specialty of infantryman, and was promoted to pay grade E-5.

5.  He served in Vietnam from 16 January to 8 December 1967.  During that time, he was assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade, from 20 January to 23 November 1967.  On 24 November 1967, he was assigned to a hospital unit as a patient.

6.  He was honorably released from active duty on 3 July 1969.  His separation document shows that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service (oak leaf cluster), the Army Commendation Medal for Valor, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and marksmanship qualification badges.

7.  Department of the Army General Order Number 8, dated 1974, awarded all personnel assigned to the United States Army Vietnam from 8 February 1962 through 28 March 1973 the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm.

8.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, shows that the applicant's unit was awarded the PUC for 16 March 1966, and for 6 to 23 November 1967.  His unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation (MUC) for 5 May 1965 and 4 May 1967.  His unit was given assault credit for 22 February 1967.  That publication also shows the pertinent identified campaign periods for which a bronze service star is authorized for wear on the Vietnam Service Medal.  Those periods are:  The Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase II, and the Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase III.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides for the award of a bronze arrowhead for wear on campaign medals to soldiers who are a part of an assault operation.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Contrary to the applicant’s contention, he was not assigned to his unit in Vietnam when it was awarded two PUC’s.  However, he was assigned to that unit when it was awarded one PUC and one MUC.  As such, he is entitled to have the PUC and the MUC added to his separation document.

2.  The applicant was also assigned to his unit when it was given assault credit.  The orders he has provided with his application verifies that he was part of that assault.  As such, he is entitled to have the Arrowhead device added to his already awarded Vietnam Service Medal.

3.  Since that assault was an airborne operation and the orders provided by the applicant show that he was already given a bronze service star for wear on his already awarded Parachutist Badge to denote his combat parachute jump, he is entitled to have that service star added to his separation document.

4.  In addition, since the applicant was assigned to Vietnam during two campaigns, he is also entitled to two bronze service stars for wear on his already issued Vietnam Service Medal.

5.  Finally, the applicant is also entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm.

6.  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 by:

	a.  awarding the PUC and the MUC to the individual concerned;

	b.  adding a bronze service star for wear on his already awarded Parachutist Badge to denote his combat parachute jump; 

	c.  adding the Arrowhead device and two bronze service stars for wear on his already issued Vietnam Service Medal; and

	d.  awarding to him the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

____jtm__  ___slp__  ____sac _  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__________Samuel A.Crumpler_________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002083938	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20030510	
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.