IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 14 December 2021 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20210013028 APPLICANT REQUESTS: in effect, an appearance before the board and correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show: * his foreign service in Thailand and the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) * award of the – * Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) * RVN Campaign Medal * Meritorious Unit Commendation APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Personal Statement * Temporary Duty (TDY) Letter Orders 4-22, dated 12 April 1968 * TDY Letter Orders 3-24, dated 28 March 1969 * Statement to Support Combat Zone Exclusions and Hostile Fire Pay April 1968 * Air Travel Documents including boarding passes and airplane tickets * DD Form 214, ending 3 April 1967 * DD Form 214, ending 1 September 1969 * Department of the Army General Orders (DAGO) 24, dated 27 April 1971 FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the three-year time frame provided in Title 10, United States Code, section 1552(b); however, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) conducted a substantive review of this case and determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. 2. The applicant states, in effect, his foreign service and awards, for his service in Thailand and the RVN, are not reflected on his DD Form 214. He contends that he completed foreign service primarily in Thailand with flights over the RVN. He further contends that he had nearly 90 days of continuous service as a liaison officer. 3. Having prior enlisted service in the Regular Army, the applicant accepted a U.S. Army Reserve commission as a second lieutenant on 4 April 1967 and entered on active duty. 4. His DA Form 66 (Officer Qualification Record) shows in: * Item 9 (Military Occupational Specialties (MOS)), he held MOS 1542 (Infantry Unit Commander) and 2622 (Training Center Unit Officer) * Item 17 (Foreign Service), no foreign service * Item 18 (Record of Assignments), he performed the duties of as Assistant Safety & Security Officer, while assigned to the Technical Escort Unit, Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland, for the period 23 December 1967 to 1 September 1969 * Item 21 (Awards and Decorations), he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) 5. On 1 September 1969, he was released from active duty. His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded or authorized the NDSM. He completed 3 years, 4 months, and 12 days of total active service with no foreign service. 6. The applicant provides: a. TDY (Temporary Duty) Letter Orders 4-22, issued by Edgewood Arsenal, on 12 April 1968. These orders directed the applicant to travel OCONUS (outside Continental United States) on or about 17 April 1968 for the purpose of escorting dangerous material for a period of 15 days. b. TDY Letter Orders 3-24, issued by Edgewood Arsenal, on 28 March 1969. These orders directed the applicant to travel to Thailand on or about 3 April 1969, for the purpose of performing liaison officer duties, for approximately 90 days. c. A Statement to Support Combat Zone Exclusions and Hostile Fire Pay. This statement shows the applicant was subject to hostile fire while performing duty in a designated hostile area (RVN), as such he was tax exempt for April 1968. d. DA General Orders Number 24, dated 27 April 1971, which awarded the MUC (First Oak Leaf Cluster) to the U.S. Army Technical Escort Center (previously designated the U.S. Army Technical Escort Unit, Edgewood Arsenal), for the period 1 August 1966 to 31 December 1968, for exceptionally meritorious performance in support of the Department of Defense efforts to equip and supply U.S. forces in Southeast Asia with newly developed aerial mine munitions. e. Several boarding passes, airline tickets with handwritten notes. There is no clear correlation between his TDY travel and these documents. 8. Applicable regulatory guidance states: a. Qualifying service for the VSM included attachment to or assignment for 1 or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations. Service members in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia, or the airspace thereover after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973. b. Qualifying service for the RVN Campaign Medal included service in Vietnam for six months during the period 1 March 1961 through 28 March 1973. Qualifying service outside the geographical limits of the RVN required that the individual contributed direct combat support to the RVN and Armed Forces for 6 months. c. The MUC was awarded to the U.S. Army Technical Escort Unit, Edgewood Arsenal, for the period 1 August 1966 to 31 December 1968, by Department of the Army General Orders 24, dated 1971. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that relief was partially warranted. The Board noted that the applicant provides a statement to Support Combat Zone Exclusions and Hostile Fire Pay. This statement shows the applicant was subject to hostile fire while performing duty in a designated hostile area (RVN), as such he was tax exempt for April 1968. Based on this statement, the Board voted to award him the Vietnam Service Medal. However, he wouldn’t qualify for the Vietnam Campaign Medal because this requires 6 months of service in Vietnam. Furthermore, his unit was awarded a MUC, and this may be added to his DD Form 214. Finally, as far as his service in Vietnam and Thailand listed on his DD Form 214, there isn't enough evidence to show the exact dates of service in either theater. The travel orders direct travel but do not confirm if travel was performed and exact dates of travel. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF :X :X :X GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by adding to the applicant's DD Form 214 the Vietnam Service Medal and Meritorious Unit Commendation. 2. The Board further determined the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief. As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to adding the Vietnam Campaign Medal or listing his service in Vietnam and/or Thailand. 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. REFERENCES: 1. Title 10, United States 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. 2. 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 is awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States for qualifying service in Vietnam after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973. Qualifying service included attachment to or assignment for 1 or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations. Service members in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia, or the airspace there over, during the same period and serving in direct support of operations in Vietnam are also eligible for this award. "Direct support" is defined as services being supplied to the combat forces in the area of operations by ground units, ships, and aircraft providing supplies and equipment to the forces concerned, provided it involves actually entering the designated area, and ships and aircraft providing fire, patrol, guard, reconnaissance, or other military support. b. The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960) was awarded by the Government of Vietnam to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States for qualifying service in Vietnam for 6months during the period 1 March 1961 through 28 March 1973. Qualifying service outside the geographical limits of the Republic of Vietnam required that the individual contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam and Armed Forces for 6 months. 3. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Decorations, Awards, and Honors-Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) assist in determining or establishing the eligibility of individual members for campaign participation credit. It shows the Meritorious Unit Commendation was awarded to the U.S. Army Technical Escort Unit, Edgewood Arsenal, for the period 1 August 1966 to 31 December 1968, by Department of the Army General Orders 24, dated 1971. 4. Department of the Army General Order 24, dated 27 April 1971, which awarded the MUC (First Oak Leaf Cluster) to the U.S. Army Technical Escort Center (previously designated the U.S. Army Technical Escort Unit, Edgewood Arsenal) the for the period 1 August 1966 to 31 December 1968, for exceptionally meritorious performance in support of the Department of Defense efforts to equip and supply U.S. forces in Southeast Asia with newly developed aerial mine munitions. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20210013028 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1