PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:          

	BOARD DATE:              11 September 2003
	DOCKET NUMBER:      AR2003088896

	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. Beverly A. Young		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Stanley Kelley		Chairperson	
	Mr. Christopher J. Prosser		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 correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) to show award of the Presidential Unit Citation.

3.  The applicant states that the Presidential Unit Citation should be added to the decorations section of his DD Form 214.  In support of his application, he submitted a supplemental letter, a copy of his DD Form 214, a listing of the Machine Gun Platoon, orders for award of the Distinguished Unit Citation, a letter from the Chief of the Military Awards Branch, and a letter from a fellow soldier.

4.  The applicant's military records have been lost or destroyed.  This case is being considered using reconstructed records.  The applicant's reconstructed records consist primarily of the DD Form 214 and a DA Form 1577 (Authorization of Issuance of Awards).  

5.  The applicant's reconstructed records show the applicant entered active duty on 5 February 1952 for a period of 3 years.  He completed the required military training and served in Korea; however the dates of his foreign service are unknown.  His discharge document shows he completed 11 months and 10 days of foreign service.

6.  The applicant provided a listing of soldiers who were assigned to the Machine Gun Platoon during the Korean War.  This document shows the applicant was a member of the 7th Squad, Second Section, Machine Gun Platoon, 5th Infantry Regiment, 5th Regimental Combat Team.

7.  Department of the Army General Orders Number 1, dated 7 January 1954 awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation to the First Section, Machine Gun Platoon, Company D, 5th Infantry Regiment, 5th Regimental Combat Team.  At the time these orders were published, the 7th Squad, Second Section, Machine Gun Platoon was not authorized award of the Distinguished Unit Citation.

8.  In a 29 November 2002 memorandum from the Chief, Military Awards Branch, U.S. Total Army Personnel Command, the Center of Military History was notified that additional elements of Company D, 5th Regimental Combat Team were authorized award of the Presidential Unit Citation.  This memorandum indicated that the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th Squads, 2nd Section Machine Gun Platoon; Recoilless Rifle Platoon; and Forward Observers, 81MM Mortar Platoon, Company D, 5th Regimental Combat Team were approved for award of the Presidential Unit Citation on 24 October 2002.  In addition, the memorandum indicated that a future Department of the Army General Order would amend General Order Number 1, dated 7 January 1954 to reflect their entitlement to this award. 

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Presidential Unit Citation (known as the Distinguished Unit Citation until 3 November 1966) is awarded for extraordinary heroism in action.  A unit must display such gallantry, determination and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission as would warrant award of the Distinguished Service Cross to an individual.  

10.  As a matter of information, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Korean War, the Government of the Republic of Korea issued the Korean War Service Medal to pay tribute to eligible Korean War veterans for their historic endeavors to preserve the freedom of the Republic of Korea and the free world.  On 20 August 1999, the Department of Defense approved acceptance and wear of this foreign service award to eligible US veterans of the Korean War, or their surviving next of kin. The medal is provided at no cost to veterans.

11.  The Department of Defense assigned responsibility to the Department of the Air Force for distribution of the Korean War Service Medal to eligible veterans or their surviving next of kin.  To apply, veterans must submit a copy of their discharge paper (DD Form 214) to the Awards and Decorations Section, Headquarters, Air Force Personnel Center, 550 C Street West, Suite 12, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas 78150-4714.  A sample request form is being provided to the applicant.  Once the Korean War Service Medal has been authorized by the Department of the Air Force, the applicant may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records to add this foreign award to his DD Form 214.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence provided by the applicant shows he was a member of the 7th Squad, Second Section, Machine Gun Platoon, 5th Infantry Regiment, 5th Regimental Combat Team during the Korean War.

2.  The Board noted that Department of the Army General Orders Number 1, dated 7 January 1954 awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation to units attached to the First Section, Machine Gun Platoon, 5th Infantry Regiment, 5th Regimental Combat Team.  However, at the time these orders were published the applicant's unit was not authorized this award.

3.  The Board also noted that in October 2002, the Department of the Army authorized award of the Presidential Unit Citation to additional units which included the 7th Squad, Second Section, Machine Gun Platoon.  

4.  Based on the foregoing, the Board has determined that the applicant is entitled to award of the Presidential Unit Citation and correction of his records to show this unit 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 by adding award of the Presidential Unit Citation to the DD Form 214 of the individual concerned.

BOARD VOTE:  

SK______  CJP____  JTM_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Stanley Kelley________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003088896	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20030911	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	Mr. Schneider	
ISSUES         1.	107.0031	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.