PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:     

	BOARD DATE:           24 June 2003                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2003083985

	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:

	Ms. Margaret K. Patterson		Chairperson	
	Mr. Ronald E. Blakely		Member	
	Mr. Frank C. Jones, II		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 he be awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) with spearhead (sic) device, and a gold (sic) star for his jump wings.

3.  The applicant states that he was awarded the AFEM with spearhead device and a gold star for his jump wings, but these awards aren’t listed on his separation document.

4.  In support of his request, he submits orders awarding him the Combat Infantryman Badge for the period 20 December 1989 to 7 January 1990.

5.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 18 July 1989, was awarded the military occupational specialty of infantryman, and was promoted to pay grade E-5.

6.  On 17 July 1993, he was honorably released from active duty at the expiration of his term of service.  His separation document shows that he was awarded the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Lapel Button, the National Defense Service Medal, the Parachutist Badge, the Ranger Tab, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Army Achievement Medal (two awards), the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Senior Parachutist Badge, and marksmanship badges.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the AFEM is authorized for participants in military operations within a specific geographic area during a specified time period.  An individual, who was not engaged in actual combat or equally hazardous activity, must have participated in operations or in direct support of operations for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days.  Paragraph 2-12 states that the AFEM is authorized for service in Panama during Operation Just Cause for the period 20 December 1989 to 31 January 1990.

8.  This regulation also provides for the award of a Bronze Arrowhead for wear on the AFEM, as well as for wear on service and campaign medals, to soldiers who are a part of an assault operation.

9.  This regulation provides for the award of a bronze service star to be worn on an already issued Parachutist Badge to denote a combat parachute jump.

10.  The XVIII Airborne Corps and Joint Task Force South Historian’s Personal Notes Recorded During the Operation, show that the 75th Rangers made parachute assaults on Rio Hato (thirteen C-130 aircraft) and Tocumen (twelve 
C-141 aircraft) on 20 December 1989.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s award of the Combat Infantryman Badge during Operation Just Cause is sufficient evidence to show that he was entitled to the AFEM.

2.  Since the 75th Ranger Regiment was one of the two airborne assault elements in the opening phase of Operation Just Cause (the 82nd Airborne Division being the other), he was entitled to an Arrowhead Device for wear on his now to be awarded AFEM and a bronze service star for wear on his already awarded Senior Parachutist Badge.

3.  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:

	a.  awarding the individual concerned the AFEM;

	b.  awarding him the Arrowhead Device for wear on his AFEM; and

	c.  awarding him a bronze service star for wear on his already awarded Senior Parachutist Badge.

BOARD VOTE:  

____fcj__  ____mkp_  ___reb__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__________Margaret K. Patterson____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003083985	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	2003083985	
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.