IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 21 July 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150012379 BOARD VOTE: ___x_____ ___x___ ____x___ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 21 July 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150012379 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: USE THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH TO GRANT RELIEF. The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant amendment of the ABCMR's decision in Docket Number AR20130013308, dated 13 March 2014. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by adding the following awards to his DD Form 214: * Bronze Star Medal * Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation * Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation ______________x___________ 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. IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 21 July 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150012379 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 his earlier request to correct his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM). He further requests to receive the actual medal. 2. The applicant states the evidence shows he was awarded the BSM and contends that he deserves to have the recognition. 3. The applicant provides copies of: * General Orders Number 1799, 173rd Airborne Brigade, dated 29 July 1971 * Certificate for award of the BSM, dated 29 July 1971 * DD Form 214 (Copies 1 and 2) * A DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Service medals and awards are not issued by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR). However, the applicant may obtain his medals by submitting his request in writing to: National Personnel Records Center, ATTN: Army Reference Branch, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63138. This issue will not be further addressed in this Record of Proceedings. 2. Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous considerations of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Dockets Numbered AR20130013308, dated 13 March 2014 and AR20120005439, dated 2 October 2012. 3. The previous two record of proceedings state the applicant requested correction of his DD Form 214 to show the BSM; however, the evidence did not contain a copy of the general orders announcing his receipt of this medal. Accordingly, the Board denied both of his requests. 4. On 17 August 1967, the applicant was inducted into the Army. On 26 June 1969, he enlisted in the Regular Army for a period of four years. 5. The applicant’s DA Form 20 shows he twice served in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN): * 14 January – 5 August 1968 with 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade * 31 August 1970 – 6 August 1971 with 3rd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade 6. General Orders Number 1799, 173rd Airborne Brigade, dated 29 July 1971, as provided by the applicant, announced his award of the BSM for meritorious service during the period August 1970 to July 1971. 7. He was honorably released from active duty on 25 June 1973. His DD Form 214 lists his awards as: * National Defense Service Medal * Combat Infantryman Badge * RVN Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device * Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Pistol Bar * Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Machinegun Bar * Parachutist Badge * Army Commendation Medal * Army Good Conduct Medal * Vietnam Service Medal with six bronze service stars * Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-14) 12379REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the BSM is awarded in time of war for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service not involving participation in aerial flight in connection with military operations against an armed enemy or while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required. 2. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists the unit awards received by units serving in the RVN. This publication shows that the 3rd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, during the time of the applicant's assignment, was cited in Department of the Army General Orders (DAGO) Number 51, dated in 1971 for award of the RVN Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation and in DAGO Number 5, dated in 1973 for award of the RVN Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation. DISCUSSION: 1. The applicant contends that his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show his award of the BSM. 2. General Orders show that the applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Therefore, his records should be corrected to show this award. 3. The applicant's unit was cited in general orders for award of the RVN Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, and the RVN Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class Unit Citation. Therefore, his records should be corrected to show these foreign unit awards. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150012379 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150012379 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2