BOARD DATE: 24 October 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160003892 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 BOARD DATE: 24 October 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160003892 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. deleting from his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) the Vietnam Service Medal; and b. adding to his DD Form 214, the: * Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars * Meritorious Unit Commendation * Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm 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. BOARD DATE: 24 October 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160003892 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 Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC). 2. He states his unit, the 61st Medical Detachment, was awarded the MUC after he was redeployed from the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) in 1967. 3. He provides: * Unit Orders Number 1, dated 20 February 1967 * Special Orders Number 83, dated 5 April 1967 * Special Orders Number 274, dated 13 October 1967 * General Orders 67, dated 23 October 1968 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. On 27 January 1965, he was appointed as a Reserve commissioned officer in the Medical Service Corps. On 11 September 1966, he was ordered to active duty. 3. His DA Form 66 (Officer Qualification Record) shows he served in the RVN from 2 December 1966 to 1 December 1967. Item 18 (Record of Assignments) shows during his service in the RVN he was assigned to: * 20th Preventive Medicine Detachment from 3 December 1966 to 14 January 1967 * 61st Medical Detachment from 15 January 1967 to on or about 1 December 1967 4. On 10 September 1968, he was honorably released from active duty and credited with completing 2 years of active duty service. His DD Form 214 shows the: * National Defense Service Medal * Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) * RVN Campaign Medal with Device (1960) * Combat Medical Badge * Bronze Star Medal REFERENCES: 1. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists the awards received by units that served in the Vietnam War. This pamphlet shows the 20th Preventive Medicine Detachment, to which he was assigned, was cited for the: * MUC for the period January to 31 December 1967 by Department of the Army General Orders (DAGO) Number 67, dated 1968 * RVN Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation for the period December 1965 to August 1968 by DAGO Number 48, dated 1971 2. Appendix B of Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states a bronze service star is awarded for wear on the VSM for participation in each campaign. His records indicate he participated in the following two campaigns: * Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase II (1 July 1966 - 31 May 1967) * Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase III (1 June 1967 - 29 January 1968) DISCUSSION: 1. The evidence of record shows he was assigned to the 20th Preventive Medicine Detachment during the period the unit was cited for award of the MUC and the RVN Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation. These awards are not listed on his DD Form 214. 2. The evidence of record also shows he participated in two campaigns during his service in the RVN. He was already awarded the VSM, but his DD Form 214 does not show the VSM with two bronze service stars to represent the two campaigns. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160003892 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160003892 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2