IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 2 December 2008 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20080012903 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests reconsideration of an earlier request that the Bronze Star Medal be added to his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge). 2. The applicant states that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile forces in Vietnam and that this award does not appear on his DD Form 214. 3. The applicant provides an award certificate for the Bronze Star Medal. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20070003738, on 23 August 2007. 2. The applicant provides an original award certificate (with raised seal), dated 1 September 1968, which shows he received the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile forces during the period July 1967 to August 1968 in Vietnam. This certificate was authenticated by the Commanding General of the Army. The certificate is also signed by Stanley R. Resor as Secretary of the Army. The signature of the Commanding General on the award certificate appears to be original. This is new evidence that will be considered by the Board. 3. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 13 December 1965 for a period of 3 years. He served as a personnel specialist in Vietnam from 14 July 1967 to 6 August 1968 and was released from active duty on 8 August 1968. 4. The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show the Bronze Star Medal as an authorized award. 5. There are no orders for the Bronze Star Medal in the applicant’s service personnel records. 6. A search of the U. S. Army Human Resource Command's Awards and Decorations Computer Assisted Retrieval System (ADCARS) did not locate orders awarding the applicant the Bronze Star Medal. 7. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, that the Bronze Star Medal is awarded in time of war for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service.  As with all personal decorations, formal recommendation, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders is required.  Recommendations must be made within 2 years of the event or period of service and the award must be made within 3 years.  DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Although there are no orders for the Bronze Star Medal, the original award certificate (with raised seal and what appears to be an original signature of the awarding authority) for the Bronze Star Medal is accepted as a sufficient basis for adding the Bronze Star Medal to the applicant's DD Form 214. The award certificate is contemporaneous with his date of separation and is signed by the Secretary of the Army at the time. BOARD VOTE: ___X_____ ____X____ ____X____ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant amendment of the ABCMR’s decision in Docket Number AR20070003738, dated 23 August 2007. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by adding the Bronze Star Medal to his DD Form 214. _______ _ XXX _______ ___ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080012903 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080012903 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1