PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            01 APRIL 2003                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002082011

	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	
	Ms. Gale J. Thomas		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas B. Redfern III		Member	
	Mr. Thomas E. O'Shaughnessy, 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 DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected by showing the award of a second Purple Heart and by changing item 23a (Specialty Number and Title) to show he was awarded the MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) of a heavy equipment operator and mechanic. 

3.  The applicant states that he was awarded a second Purple Heart that is not reflected on his DD 214, and that his specialty number and title is incorrect as listed in item 23a on his DD 214.  

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 29 June 1966 for a period of 3 years.

5.  The applicant served in Korea from January to September 1967, and in the Republic of Vietnam from September 1967 to April 1969.

6.  The applicant was awarded the Purple Heart on General Orders Number 25, dated 22 June 1968, for wounds he received on 9 January 1968, and on General Orders Number 26, dated 22 June 1968 he was awarded a second Purple Heart for wounds he received on 1 February 1968.  

7.  The applicant’s DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he was originally awarded MOS 62B (Engineer Equipment Repairman) on 3 December 1966, however, on 17 November 1967 he was awarded MOS 62E (Construction Machine Operator) as his primary MOS and MOS 62B became his secondary MOS.  On 21 September 1968, MOS 62E was withdrawn and he was awarded the primary MOS of 62J (Air Compressor Operator).   

8.  The applicant was released from active duty on 13 April 1969, under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, chapter 5.  His DD form 214 indicates he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and a Purple Heart.

9.  The applicant was assigned to the 557th Engineer Company in Vietnam from 
23 June 1968 to 10 April 1969, which was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal during his period of assignment.  He is also entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, one silver service star and one bronze service stars on the Vietnam Service Medal for his participation in six designed campaigns (Vietnam Counteroffensive-Phase’s III, IV, V and VI, the TET Counteroffensive, and the TET Counteroffensive, 1969). This information should be reflected on the applicant’s April 1969 separation document.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was awarded a second Purple Heart for wounds he received while serving in Vietnam, as authenticated by General Orders 26, dated 23 June 1968, and his DD Form 214 should be corrected to reflect this award.    

2.  Even though the applicant’s DA Form 20 shows a duty MOS of 64B during the period of his service in Vietnam, there is no evidence that he was trained in or awarded that MOS.  Therefore, the applicant’s DD Form 214 correctly reflects his MOS as 62J, Air Compressor Operator. 

3.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 should be corrected to show award of the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and one silver service star and one bronze service star added to his Vietnam Service Medal.

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 the applicant was awarded a second Purple Heart, the 
Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and by adding one silver service star and one bronze service star to his Vietnam Service Medal.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__AAO__  __TBR __  __TEO __  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Arthur A. Omartian____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002082011	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20030401	
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.	110.00	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.