PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:            29 July 2003
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2003086896

	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	
	M . Gerard W. Schwartz		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Margaret K. Patterson		Chairperson	
	Mr. Walter T. Morrison		Member	
	Mr. Thomas E. O'Shaughnessy		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 Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.

3.  The applicant states that the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) representative told him that he is authorized the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation award.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered active duty on 14 November 1966.  His record shows that he completed training in Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) 75C (Personnel Specialist).  He served in Headquarters, 25th Infantry Division while stationed in Vietnam during this enlistment.  The applicant was discharged on 4 September 1969 with a characterization of service of honorable.

5.  The applicant’s records contain a single DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) covering his enlistment between 14 November 1966 and 4 September 1969.  There is no indication of specific dates the applicant was stationed in Vietnam.  However, this DD Form 214 does cover the applicant’s service in Vietnam based upon annotation of Headquarters, 25th Infantry Division, USARPAC as the last unit in item 12 (Last Duty Assignment and Command) and award of the Vietnam Campaign Medal, Bronze Star Medal and Vietnam Service Medal in item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized).

6. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists the unit awards received by units serving in Vietnam.  This document shows the unit, to which the applicant was assigned, was cited for award of the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation during the periods March 1966 to August 1968 by Department of the Army General Orders Number 48, dated 1971 and 1 September 1968 to 30 September 1970 by Department of the Army General Orders Number 5, dated 1973.  These dates cover the applicant's entire period of service.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board considered the applicant’s request for award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation and the documents which he submitted in support of his claim.  The Board also reviewed the available service personnel and medical records.

2.  The Board noted that the applicant’s records contains a single DD Form 214 covering his enlistment between 14 November 1966 and 4 September 1969.  There is no indication of specific dates the applicant was stationed in Vietnam.  However, this DD Form 214 establishes his assignment in Vietnam.  Additionally, his entire period of enlistment is covered by the eligibility period of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this unit award.

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 showing the individual concerned was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.

BOARD VOTE:  

__MKP__  _WTM___  _TEO___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__________MKP____________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003086896	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20030729	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0094.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.