PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            23 JANUARY 2003                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002075605

	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	
	Mr. Kenneth H. Aucock		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Kathleen A. Newman		Chairperson	
	Ms. Gail J. Wire		Member	
	Mr. Patrick H. McGann, Jr.		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 record be corrected to show award of the Bronze Star Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. 

3.  The applicant states that his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) does not reflect award of those medals.  He submits copies of citations showing that he received those awards. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army on    7 December 1966, completed training as an infantryman, and was awarded the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with rifle bar while stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana.  In April 1967 he was ordered to report to Oakland, California for further assignment to Vietnam.  Instead, he went AWOL.  On        13 February 1968 he was arraigned and tried before a special court-martial which convened at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.  He pled guilty to AWOL from 19 May 1967 to 13 January 1968.  He was sentenced to hard labor for three months without confinement.  

5.  In March 1968 he was again ordered to report to Oakland for further assignment to Vietnam.  His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows that he was assigned to Company E of the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry in Vietnam in April 1968.  

6.  On 1 November 1968 he was promoted to pay grade E-4.  Orders published by the 101st Airborne Division on 19 November 1968 show that the applicant was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious achievement for the period 1 May 1968 to 30 September 1968.  Orders published by the 101st on     19 March 1969 show that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service for the period 1 July 1968 to 28 February 1969.  The applicant participated in four campaigns during his tour in Vietnam.  He returned to the United States in April 1969 and was released from active duty on 10 April 1969.  The 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry was awarded the Valorous Unit Award, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation for its actions while the applicant was assigned to that organization.

7.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows awards of only the National Defense Service Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with device, and the Vietnam Service Medal.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with rifle bar.  Those awards should be reflected on his DD Form 214. 

2.  The applicant participated in four campaigns.  His record should show award of the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars (one for each campaign).

3.  The applicant is entitled to award of the Valorous Unit Award, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation.

4.  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 showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with rifle bar, the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars, the Valorous Unit Award, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation.

BOARD VOTE:  

__KAN   _  ___GJW_  ___PHM_  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Kathleen A. Newman__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002075605	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20030123	
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.