PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           15 JULY 2003                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2003086962

	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:

	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn 		Chairperson	
	Ms. Margaret V. Thompson		Member	
	Mr. Eric N. Andersen		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 Purple Heart and two Bronze Star Medals; one with a "V" device.  In support of his request he submits a copy of orders awarding him the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device, and a copy of a Bronze Star Medal citation recognizing his meritorious service during the period July 1968 to July 1969.

3.  The applicant's military personnel file was not available to the Board.  Information contained herein was reconstructed entirely from documents provided by the applicant.

4.  He entered active duty on 8 February 1969 and served in the Republic of Vietnam for approximately 12 months where he was awarded, among other things, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Vietnam Service Medal and an Air Medal.

5.  On 10 August 1969 he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained on 15 March 1969.  Orders issued by the 1st Infantry Division confirmed the award.  The award, however, was not recorded on his separation document.

6.  On 11 August 1969 the applicant was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with "V" device for his heroic actions on 3 March 1969.  Orders issued by the 1st Infantry Division confirmed that award, however, it was omitted from his separation document.

7.  The applicant's award orders indicate that he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division at the time he was wounded, and during the operation which resulted in his award for heroism.

8.  The applicant was discharged on 6 February 1970.

9.  The Bronze Star Medal citation, submitted by the applicant in support of his request is undated and unsigned.  However, the citation does note that the applicant was recognized for his meritorious service during the period July 1968 to July 1969, while a member of the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.

10.  A review of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 notes that the applicant's unit, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation for the period 12 July 1965 through 7 April 1970.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms that the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal with "V" device.  His records should be corrected accordingly.

2.  Although there were no records available to the Board to confirm that the applicant was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service, the Board accepts the award citation as sufficient evidence to confirm entitlement to that award.  The Board notes that both the applicant's Bronze Star Medal for heroism and his award of the Purple Heart were confirmed in orders several months after the events which resulted in the awards had occurred.  There is no reason to believe that his Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service was not confirmed in orders issued several months after the conclusion of the award period in July 1969.  The Board is also satisfied that a recipient of the Purple Heart, an Air Medal, a Combat Infantryman Badge, and a Bronze Star Medal for heroism would also be entitled to an award of the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service. 

3.  In the absence orders, or evidence to the contrary, the Board accepts the applicant’s award certificate as authentication of entitlement to the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service, and in the interest of justice concludes it would be appropriate to add the award to his separation document.

4.  The Board also notes that based on the dates of the applicant's combat wound, and act of heroism, the applicant was a member of the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry during the period for which the unit was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation, and as such, is entitled to that award.

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:

a.  by showing that the individual concerned was award the Purple Heart;

b. by showing that he was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with "V" device;

c.  by showing that he is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation; and

d.  by confirming his award of the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service while in Vietnam.

BOARD VOTE:  

__FNE __  __MVT __  __ENA  _  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Fred N. Eichorn_______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003086962	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20030715	
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.