PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            9 March 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999029913

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Jessie B. Strickland		Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. June Hajjar		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas D. Howard, Jr.		Member	
	Ms. Carol Jo Suiter		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
            records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests that his report of separation (DD Form 214) be corrected to reflect all of his military training courses and authorized decorations and awards.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his DD Form 214 does not accurately reflect all of the military training courses he attended or his authorized decorations and awards. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he initially enlisted on 10 April 1967 for a period of 3 years.  He served as a cook and completed a tour in Vietnam from 19 July 1968 to 18 July 1969 before he was honorably released from active duty on 9 April 1970.

5.  He again enlisted on 22 June 1970 for a period of 3 years and training under the airborne infantry training option.  He successfully completed his advanced individual training as a light weapons infantryman, basic airborne training, pathfinder training, and Ranger training before being transferred to Vietnam on 2 January 1971.  He remained in Vietnam with the 2d battalion, 503d Infantry until he was transferred to Fort Campbell, Kentucky with his unit on 21 July 1971. He was promoted to the pay grade of E-5 on 1 April 1972.

6.  On 3 July 1973 he was honorably discharged on his scheduled expiration of term of service (ETS).  He had served 6 years, 2 months, and 12 days of total active service.  His DD Form 214 shows that he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Parachutist Badge, three overseas bars, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Ranger Tab, the Vietnam Service Medal with six campaign stars, and the Expert Marksmanship Badge with M16 rifle bar.  It also shows that he completed the basic airborne course.

7.  A review of the applicant’s records shows that he was awarded the Pathfinder Badge and that he completed the Pathfinder course at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1970 (duration 5 weeks) and the Ranger course at Fort Benning in 1972 (duration 8 weeks). 

8.  Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register-Vietnam Era) was published to assist commanders and personnel officers in determining or establishing the eligibility of individual members for campaign participation credit, assault landing credit, and unit citation badges awarded during the Vietnam Conflict.  

9.  Table 1 (Army Units in Numerical Order) of the pamphlet indicates that Department of the Army General Order (DAGO) 6, published in 1974, authorized the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/palm) for service in Vietnam during the period 1 March to 9 October 1971.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s records clearly show that the applicant was awarded the Pathfinder Badge and that he attended the Pathfinder and Ranger courses during the period covered by the DD Form 214 in question. 

2.  However, it appears that an administrative error resulted in the omission of this data from his DD Form 214 at the time of separation.  Therefore, it would be in the interest of justice to correct the error at this time.

3.  Additionally, although authorized subsequent to the applicant’s separation from the service, his records should also be corrected to reflect the award of the RVNGC with palm that was earned by his unit in Vietnam during the period he served with that unit.

4.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Pathfinder Badge, that he completed the Pathfinder course at Fort Benning in 1970 (duration 5 weeks), and that he completed the Ranger course at Fort Benning in 1972 (duration 8 weeks).

2.  That he also be awarded the RVNGC with palm for his service in Vietnam during the period 2 January to 21 July 1971 and that his records be corrected accordingly.

BOARD VOTE:  

__cs ____  __jh ____  __tdh ___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______June Hajjar________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999029913	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	2000/03/09	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  110.0000	189/CORR 214	
2.  107.0121	167/PATHFINDER BADGE	
3.  107.0094	140/RVNGC	
4.		
5.		
6.