BOARD DATE: 3 August 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160002111 BOARD VOTE: _________ _______ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ____x____ ___x_____ __x___ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration BOARD DATE: 3 August 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160002111 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. ___________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. BOARD DATE: 3 August 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160002111 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 correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the: * Vietnam Service Medal * Overseas Service Ribbon 2. The applicant states he served with a support detachment in the Philippines as an Army liaison. His job was to retrieve personal belongings of Army personnel wounded in Vietnam or those who died in the hospital. He also drove an ambulance, carried stretchers, or worked as needed. 3. The applicant provides his DD Form 214. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant's failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing. 2. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 26 August 1963 for a period of 3 years. 3. Item 31 (Foreign Service) of his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he received credit for foreign service under the command of U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC)-Philippines from 11 February 1964 through 27 July 1965. 4. Item 38 (Record of Assignments) of his DA Form 20 shows he was assigned to the U.S. Army Ryukyu Islands Support Detachment in the Philippines as a personnel administrative specialist at the hospital (liaison duty) from 20 February 1964 through 26 July 1965. He departed USARPAC-Philippines on or about 26 July 1965. 5. Item 41 (Awards and Decorations) of his DA Form 20 shows he was awarded or authorized the: * National Defense Service Medal * Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) 6. On 25 August 1966, he was honorably released from active duty. 7. His DD Form 214 shows he completed 1 year and 6 months of foreign service in the Philippines and he was awarded or authorized the: * National Defense Service Medal * Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) * Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle, Carbine, and Missile Bars 8. There is no evidence showing he served in Vietnam. There is no evidence showing he was assigned to a unit in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia that served in direct support of operations in Vietnam. REFERENCES: Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. a. The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States serving in Vietnam and its contiguous waters or airspace there over after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973. Service members of the Armed Forces of the United States in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia, or the airspace there over, during the same period and serving in direct support of operations in Vietnam were also eligible for this award. Qualifying service included attachment to or assignment for 1 or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations. Direct support is defined as services being supplied to participating forces in the area of eligibility by ground units, ships, and aircraft, providing it involved actually entering the designated area. This included units, ships, and aircraft providing logistic, patrol, guard, reconnaissance, or other military support within the designated area of eligibility. b. The Overseas Service Ribbon is awarded to members of the U.S. Army for successful completion of overseas tours. Effective 1 August 1981, all members of the Active Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve in an active Reserve status are eligible for this award. The ribbon may be awarded retroactively to those personnel who were credited with normal overseas tour completion before 1 August 1981 provided they had an Active Army status on or after 1 August 1981. DISCUSSION: 1. The applicant requests award of the Vietnam Service Medal and Overseas Service Ribbon for his service in the Philippines. 2. The evidence of record shows he was assigned to a support detachment in the Philippines. There is no evidence of record and he provided no evidence showing he served in Vietnam or that he was assigned to a unit in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia that served in direct support of operations in Vietnam. 3. He did not have an Active Army status on or after 1 August 1981. 4. He does not meet the eligibility criteria for award of the Vietnam Service Medal or Overseas Service Ribbon. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160002111 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160002111 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2