PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:               13 January 2000               
	DOCKET NUMBER:      AR1999031866

	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.  

	Ms. Beverly A. Young		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Ernest M. Willcher		Chairperson	
	Mr. Ernest W. Lutz, Jr.		Member	
	Ms. Margaret V. Thompson		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 correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM).

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he requests award of the ARCOM because he was wounded in Vietnam and now he is 70% disabled.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 15 October 1968, completed infantry training and was assigned to Vietnam.  He later served in Germany and was honorably released from active duty on 11 February 1972.

5.  The applicant’s service personnel records contain two DD Forms 214.  These discharge documents do not show the ARCOM as an authorized award.  The Board notes that the applicant is entitled to award of the Good Conduct Medal (GCMDL), the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) with three bronze service stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVNCM) with Device (1960) and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (RVNGC) with Palm Unit Citation Badge which are also not shown on his discharge documents.

6.  There are no orders in the applicant’s service personnel records which show that he was awarded the ARCOM.  There also is no evidence in his records that he was recommended for award of the ARCOM.  His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) does not list the ARCOM in item 41 (Awards and Decorations).

7.  A DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 12 June 1992, in the applicant’s personnel records shows he was awarded the GCMDL, the VSM with three bronze service stars, the RVNCM with Device (1960) and the RVNGC with Palm Unit Citation Badge.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Army Commendation Medal may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There is no evidence of record, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows that he was recommended for or awarded the Army Commendation Medal.  Therefore, the applicant is not entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

2.  The applicant was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960) and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation Badge; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 with an effective date of 11 February 1972 to show these awards.

3.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing the individual concerned was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960) and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation Badge in item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 with an effective date of 11 February 1972.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

EMW____  EWL____  MVT____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Ernest M. Willcher____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999031866	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000113 	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.