PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           22 March 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999032405

	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.  

	Mrs. Nancy Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. James M. Alward		Chairperson	
	Mr. Ted S. Kanamine		Member	
	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		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 the Combat Medical Badge and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm be added to his DD Form 214.

3.  The applicant states that he served as a combat medic during his first tour in Vietnam and the Gallantry Cross was given to the 4th Infantry Division.  He is not asking for the Bronze Star Medal or any other awards.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 26 March 1968.  He completed basic combat training and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupational specialty 91B (Medical Corpsman).  He completed airborne training and was awarded special qualification identifier P (parachute-qualified).

5.  The applicant arrived in Vietnam and was assigned to Company D, 4th Medical Battalion, 4th Infantry Division and performed duties as a 91A and 91B.  He was reassigned to Headquarters and Company A, 4th Medical Battalion, 4th Infantry Division on 15 March 1970 and performed duties as a 91B.  He was assigned to the 29th Civil Affairs Company on 25 April 1970 and performed duties as a 91B.  Upon departing Vietnam, the 29th Civil Affairs Company recommended the applicant for a service medal and noted in the citation that he had served for a year as a combat medic in the 4th Infantry Division.  The applicant departed Vietnam on 2 November 1970 and was released from active duty on 8 November 1970.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Medical Badge could be awarded to Medical Department personnel assigned or attached to infantry units of brigade or smaller size who satisfactorily perform medical duties while the unit is engaged in actual ground combat, provided they are personally present and under fire.  The award was established to recognize medical aidmen who shared the same hazards and hardships of ground combat on a daily basis with the infantry soldier.

7.  Army Pamphlet 672-3 shows that Company D, 4th Medical Battalion, 4th Infantry Division was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm for the period 1 August 1967 – 31 October 1969 and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class for the period 1 September 1968 – 28 July 1969.  The 29th Civil Affairs Company was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for the period 9 March 1970 – 8 April 1971.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant met the criteria for award of the Combat Medical Badge and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.  He also met the criteria for award of the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class and the Meritorious Unit Citation.
2. In view of the foregoing, it would be in the interest of justice to correct the applicant’s records as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by adding the Combat Medical Badge, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class and the Meritorious Unit Citation to the applicant’s DD Form 214.

BOARD VOTE:  

__jma___  __tsk___  __aao___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			James M. Alward
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999032405	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000322	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	110.04	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.