IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  26 January 2012

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20110015067 


THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE:

1.  Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any).

2.  Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any).


THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant requests reconsideration of his earlier request for award of the Vietnam Service Medal.

2.  He states:

	a.  he has received the previous decision of the Board and was denied award of the Vietnam Service Medal since he was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

	b.  he would prefer the Vietnam Service Medal rather than the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam) because it is the recognized symbol of service in Vietnam.  

3.  He provides no additional documents.  

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20100029730 on 23 June 2011.

2.  The applicant provided new statements that will be considered by the Board.  

3.  He enlisted in the Regular Army on 25 July 1962.  He served in Vietnam from 12 July 1964 to 15 July 1965 and was assigned to the 3rd Radio Research Unit, U.S. Army Security Agency.  

4.  He was honorably released from active duty on 15 July 1965.  Item 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaigns and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) shows he was awarded the:

* Army Good Conduct Medal
* Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam)
* Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-1 and Carbine)
* Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-14)
* Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Pistol Bar

5.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Vietnam Service Medal is awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States for qualifying service in Vietnam after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973.  The regulation states:

	a.  Qualifying service included attachment to or assignment for 1 or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations.  Service members who earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for service in Vietnam between 1 July 1958 and 3 July 1965 may elect to receive the Vietnam Service Medal instead of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.  However, no service member may be issued both medals for service in Vietnam.  

	b.  A bronze service star is authorized with this award for each Vietnam campaign a member is credited with participating in.  Appendix B shows that during his service in Vietnam, the applicant participated in the Vietnam Advisory Campaign and the Vietnam Defense Campaign.  

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant served in Vietnam from 12 July 1964 to 15 July 1965, for which he was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.  Subsequent to his release from active duty, the Vietnam Service Medal was authorized for service in Vietnam.  

2.  The applicant prefers award of the Vietnam Service Medal in lieu of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.  Therefore, his DD Form 214 will be amended to reflect the Vietnam Service Medal.  

3.  The regulation requires that the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal be removed from the applicant’s records as no person will be entitled to both awards for Vietnam service.  

4.  Additionally, the applicant received credit for participation in two campaigns during his tour in Vietnam.  Therefore, he is eligible for two bronze service stars for wear on the Vietnam Service Medal.  

BOARD VOTE:

____X____  __X______  ___X_____  GRANT FULL RELIEF

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant amendment of the ABCMR’s decision in Docket Number AR20100029730, dated 23 June 2011.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by:

	a.  deleting award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam) from item 26 of his DD Form 214; and

	b.  adding award of the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars to item 26 of his DD Form 214.




      _______ _   __X_____   ___
               CHAIRPERSON
      
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.


ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20110015067





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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20110015067



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