PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           6 November 2003
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2003090343

	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. Jessie B. Strickland		Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Stanley Kelley		Chairperson	
	Mr. Raymond J. Wagner		Member	
	Ms. Mae M. Bullock		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 report of separation (DD Form 214) be corrected to reflect his award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) with "V" Device.

3.  The applicant states that he was awarded the BSM with "V" Device for valor in action in Vietnam in March 1964 and it has not been included on his reports of separation.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 25 September 1961, for a period of 3 years under the airborne training enlistment option.  He successfully completed his training and was transferred to the 5th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  He was promoted to the pay grade of E-5 on 10 August 1963.

5.  On 6 November 1963, he transferred to Vietnam with his unit.  While in Vietnam, his commander submitted a recommendation to award the applicant the award of the Silver Star for gallantry in action in Vietnam on 2 and 3 March 1964.

6.  Meanwhile, the applicant departed Vietnam on 2 May 1964, only to return back to Vietnam on 27 December 1964.  He was promoted to the pay grade of  E-6 on 11 January 1965.

7.  On 8 March 1965, a Department of the Army Decorations Board disapproved the recommendation for award of the Silver Star and approved a lesser award of the BSM with "V" Device.  The applicant was presented the award on 20 September 1965 at Moc Hoa, South Vietnam.  He departed Vietnam on 26 December 1965.

8.  On 2 November 1966, upon completion of officer candidate school (OCS), he was honorably discharged for the purpose of accepting a commission.  He was commissioned as a United States Army Reserve Infantry second lieutenant on 3 November 1966, with a concurrent call to active duty.  He served tours in Thailand and Okinawa and was promoted to the rank of captain on 3 November 1968.  He returned to Vietnam on 1 June 1969 and served as a special forces officer until 31 May 1970, when he was transferred to Fort Hood, Texas.

9.  On 3 September 1973, he was honorably released from active duty due to reduction in strength.  He had served 11 years, 11 months and 9 days of total active service and his DD Form 214 reflects that he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, the BSM, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Silver Star, and Vietnamese Jump Wings.

10.  A review of the applicant's records shows that he was also awarded the Parachutist Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), the National Defense Service Medal (NDSM), the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) with one silver and two bronze service stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVNCM), the Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM), the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/Palm) Unit Citation, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal – First Class (RVNCAHM-FC) Unit Citation and the Thai Master Parachutist Badge and Fourragere.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record clearly shows that the applicant was awarded the BSM with "V" Device that was not included on his DD Form 214 at the time of separation.

2.  The applicant was also awarded the Parachutist Badge, the CIB, the NDSM, the VSM with one silver and two bronze service stars, the RVNCM, the AGCM, the AFEM, the RVNGC w/Palm Unit Citation, the RVNCAHM-FC Unit Citation and the Thai Master Parachutist Badge and Fourragere.

3.  Therefore, the Board finds that it would be in the interest of justice to correct his records at this time to properly reflect all of his awards.

4.  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 (DD Form 214 dated 3 September 1973) be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device, the Parachutist Badge, the CIB, the NDSM, the VSM with one silver and two bronze service stars, the RVNCM, the AGCM, the AFEM, the RVNGC w/Palm Unit Citation, the RVNCAHM-FC Unit Citation and the Thai Master Parachutist Badge and Fourragere.

BOARD VOTE:  

___sk___  ___mb __  ___rjw___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Stanley Kelley______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003090343	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	2003/11/06	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  46	107.0000	
2.  60	107.0014/BSM	
3.  115	107.0069/NDSM	
4.  119	107.0073/VSM	
5.  134	107.0088/RVNCM	
6.  103	107.0056/AGCM