PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:        

	BOARD DATE:           20 November 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001060445

	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. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mrs. Carolyn G. Wade		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Jennifer L. Prater		Chairperson	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Member	
	Ms. Regan K. Smith		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 award of the Air Medal (AM) be added to his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge).

3.  The applicant states he was awarded the AM while assigned to Vietnam.

4.  In support of his application, the applicant submitted a copy of a letter from his congressman congratulating him on being awarded the AM while serving in Vietnam.

5.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 26 May 1970 for a period of 2 years.  Following completion of all military training, he was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 11B, Light Weapons Infantryman, and was assigned to the Republic of Vietnam for his first permanent duty station.  He served there with Company A, 1st Battalion (Airmobile), 501st Infantry from 4 November 1970 to 3 November 1971. 

6.  The applicant was separated with an honorable discharge on 14 December 1971 under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200 by reason of early release of overseas returnees and transferred to the United States Army Reserve. He was credited with 1 year, 6 months, and 19 days of active military service.  His DD Form 214 reflects the following awards:  National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 Device, Vietnam Service Medal w/ 1 Bronze Service Star and Combat Infantryman Badge.

7.  United States Army Vietnam (USARV) Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) provided, in pertinent part, guidelines for award of the Air Medal (AM).  It established that passenger personnel who did not participate in an air assault were not eligible for the award based upon sustained operations.  It defined terms and provided guidelines for the award based upon the number and types of missions or hours.  Twenty-five Category I missions (air assault and equally dangerous missions) and accrual of a minimum of 25 hours of flight time while engaged in Category I missions was the standard established for which sustained operations were deemed worthy of recognition by an award of the Air Medal.  However, the regulation was clear that these guidelines were considered only a departure point.  Nothing created an entitlement to the award.  There was no provision for making the award simply because an aircraft was struck by enemy fire.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The record reflects that the applicant served in Vietnam and was assigned to 1st Battalion (Airmobile), 501st Infantry.  He provides a copy of a letter from his congressman congratulating him on being awarded the AM while serving in Vietnam.  The Board accepts this information as proof of the applicant's entitlement to the AM.

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

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by issuing to the individual concerned a DD Form 215, Correction to DD Form 214, awarding him the AM.

BOARD VOTE:  

_JLP____  ___MHM_  __RKS__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_      Jennifer L. Prater___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001060445	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20011120	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19711214	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON	Early release of overseas returnee	
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	DASA	
ISSUES         1.	107.0018	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.