IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 14 January 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150008024 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 correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty), ending on 31 January 1976 to show: * Meritorious Unit Citation * Meritorious Unit Citation Commemorative Service Ribbon * Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Leaf and Gold Frame * Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Commemorative Ribbon with Palm Leaf (Individual Award) * Republic of Vietnam Merit Medal * Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Alaska) * Cold War Commemorative Service Ribbon * Foreign Expeditionary Medal (Alaska) * Overseas Commemorative Service Medal (Alaska) * American Defense Service Medal * Republic of Vietnam Service Medal * Combat Service Commemorative Medal (Vietnam) * U.S. Army Commemorative Medal * Armed Services Expert Marksmanship Medal * Korea Defense Service Medal * NATO Service Commemorative Medal * United Nations [Service] Medal (Korea) * Honorable Service Medal * Armed Forces Retired Service Medal * National Guard/U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Commemorative Medal * United Nations Military Service Commemorative Medal (Korea) * Armed Forces Reserve Medal * U.S. Army Reserve Achievement Medal * Cold War Certificate 2. The applicant states he is eligible for several medals and service ribbons that were never issued. 3. The applicant provides: * Wikipedia printout of the 1st Signal Brigade * A picture of a sign that reads 1st Signal Brigade * Wikipedia printout of the Gallantry Cross (Vietnam) * Internet printout of the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry * Wikipedia printout of the Military Merit Medal (Vietnam) * DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) ending on 10 August 1956, 17 May 1961, 28 March 1967, and 24 May 1973 and Retirement DD Form 214, ending on 31 January 1976 * DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) * Three Honorable Discharge Certificates * Certificate of Retirement * Retirement Orders CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant's failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing. 2. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army (RA) on 20 October 1953 and held military occupational specialty (MOS) 768.10 (General Supply Specialist). He served in Alaska from 10 August 1954 to 8 August 1956. He was assigned to Field Station 8067th DU. 3. He was honorably released from active duty and he was transferred to the USAR Control Group to complete his remaining service obligations. He completed 2 years, 9 months, and 21 days of active service. His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded or authorized the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. 4. He again enlisted in the RA on 11 August 1958. He held MOS 281.10 (Microwave Radio Equipment Repairer). He served in Japan from 9 March 1960 to 15 May 1961. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Signal Communication Agency. 5. He was honorably released from active duty on 17 May 1961 and he was transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve Control Group to complete his remaining service obligations. He completed 2 years, 9 months, and 7 days of active service. His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded or authorized the Marksman [Marksmanship Qualification Badge] with Carbine Bar. 6. He reenlisted in the RA on 8 August 1961. He held MOS 26L (Microwave Radio Repairman). He served in France from 19 July 1962 to 21 July 1964. He was assigned to 298th Signal Company from July to October 1962 and the 102nd Signal Company from October 1962 to July 1964. 7. He also served in Vietnam from 13 December 1965 to 7 December 1966. He was assigned to the U.S. Army Strategic Communications Command (USASCC) Facility at Phu Lam. a. In November 1964, Phu Lam was reorganized as the U.S. Army Strategic Communications Command (USASTRATCOM) Facility, Vietnam reporting to USASTRATCOM - Pacific in Hawaii. b. In 1966, the Army continued its build-up in Vietnam and expanded its facilities at Phu Lam. The Wideband Communications section was operated by a detachment of the Long Lines Battalion - South, headquartered at Vung Tau. As part of the reorganization to consolidate communications units in Vietnam, in April 1966, Phu Lam became part the newly activated 1st Signal Brigade (USASTRATCOM) and shortly thereafter, Regional Communications Group became the immediate higher headquarters of Phu Lam. 8. He was honorably discharged on 28 March 1967. He completed 5 years, 7 months, and 21 days of active service. His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded or authorized the: * Good Conduct Medal * Vietnam Service Medal * Vietnam Campaign Medal * National Defense Service Medal * 2 overseas service bars 9. He reenlisted in the RA on 29 March 1967. He served in Korea from 10 December 1969 to 9 January 1971. He was assigned to Companies A and C, USASTRATCOM-Long Lines Battalion (North)-Korea. 10. He was honorably discharged on 24 May 1973. He completed 6 years, 1 month, and 26 days of active service. His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded or authorized the: * Vietnam Service Medal * National Defense Service Medal * Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal * Good Conduct Medal (3rd Award) * 2 overseas service bars * Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal 11. He reenlisted in the RA on 25 May 1973 and held MOS 32Z (Fixed Station Chief). He retired on 31 January 1976 and he was placed on the Retired List in his retired rank/grade of sergeant first class/E-7 on 1 February 1976. He completed 20 years and 21 days of total active service. His retirement DD Form 214 shows he was awarded or authorized the: * Good Conduct Medal (4th Award) * National Defense Service Medal * Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device * 2 overseas service bars * Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal * Vietnam Service Medal with 3 campaigns (shown as 3CC) 12. Department of the Army (DA) Pamphlet 672-3 (Decorations, Awards, and Honors- Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) is published to assist commanders and personnel officers in determining or establishing the eligibility of individual members for campaign participation credit, assault landing credit, and unit citation badges awarded, in part, during the Vietnam Conflict. a. DA General Orders (DAGO) Number 8, dated 1974, announced award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm for service in Vietnam to Headquarters, United States Military Assistance Command and its subordinate units during the period 8 February 1962 to 28 March 1973, and Headquarters, United States Army Vietnam and its subordinate units during the period 20 July 1965 to 28 March 1973. b. The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross was awarded by the Vietnamese Government for valorous combat achievement in four degrees, as follows: * With Palm — to a unit which is cited before the Armed Forces * With Gold Star — To a unit which is cited before a Corps * With Silver Star — To a unit which is cited before a Division * With Bronze Star — To a unit was is cited before a Regiment/Brigade c. DAGO Number 17, dated 23 April 1968, awarded Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 1st Signal Brigade, (and only one attached unit, the 23rd Military History Detachment) the Meritorious Unit Commendation for service from 1 April 1966 to 31 July 1967. d. DAGO Number 13, dated 1978 (amended DAGO Number 43, dated 1972) awarded the U.S. Army Strategic Communications Command Long Lines Battalion-North the Meritorious Unit Commendation for service from 1 October 1968 to 15 June 1969. e. DAGO Number 42, dated 1965, awarded the U.S. Army Strategic Communications Command Facility, Vietnam the Meritorious Unit Commendation for service from November 1964 to May 1965. 13. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides DA policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual military decorations, service medals and ribbons, combat and special skill badges and tabs, unit decorations, trophies, and similar devices awarded in recognition of accomplishments. It also prescribes the policies and procedures concerning foreign decorations to U.S. Army personnel. a. The Vietnam Service Medal is awarded for qualifying service in Vietnam after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973. A bronze service star is worn on the appropriate service ribbon, to include the Vietnam Service Medal, for each credited campaign. During the applicant's service in Vietnam, campaign participation credit was awarded for the following campaigns: * Vietnam Defense Campaign (8 March-24 December 1965) * Vietnam Counteroffensive (25 December 1965-30 June 1966) * Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase (1 July 1966-31 May 1967) b. The Korea Defense Service Medal is authorized for award to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who have served on active duty in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea. The period of eligibility is 28 July 1954 to a date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense c. The American Defense Service Medal is awarded for service within the American Theater between 8 September 1939 and 7 December 1941 under orders to active duty for a period of 12 months or longer. d. The United Nations Service Medal was established by United nations General Assembly Resolution 483(V), 12 December 1950. Presidential acceptance for the U.S. Armed Forces was announced by DOD on 27 November 1951. To qualify for award of the United Nations Service Medal, individuals must meet one of the following: (1) service members of the Armed Forces of the United States dispatched to Korea or adjacent areas for service on behalf of the United Nations in the action in Korea; (2) Other personnel dispatched to Korea or adjacent areas as members of paramilitary and quasi-military units designated by the U.S. Government for service in support of United Nations action in Korea and certified by the UN Commander in Chief as having directly supported military operations there; (3) Personnel awarded the Korea Service Medal are automatically eligible for award of the United Nations Service Medal; and (4) Service with a national contingent designated by the U.S. Government for service in support of the United nations action in Korea and certified by the United nations Commander in Chief as having directly supported military operations in Korea. Service will be for periods between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954, inclusive, with conditional stipulations. e. The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is awarded for honorable and satisfactory Service as a member or former member of one or more of the Reserve Component (RC) of the Armed Forces of the United States, for a period of 10 years under the following conditions: such years of service must have been performed within a period of 12 consecutive years and each year of active or inactive status honorable service prior to 1 July 1949 in any RC will be credited toward award. For service performed on or after 1 July 1949, a member must accumulate, during each anniversary year, a minimum of 50 retirement points as prescribed. Service in a Regular Component of the Armed Forces is excluded except that service in a RC which is concurrent in whole or in part with service in a Regular Component will be included. f. The Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal was established by the Secretary of the Army on 3 March 1971 (DAGO Number 1971–30, and amended by DAGO 1974–4). It is awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity while serving as a member of an Army National Guard (ARNG) or USAR troop program unit (TPU) or as an individual mobilization augmentee (IMA). The individual must have been a member of an ARNG unit or USAR TPU. The medal is also awarded to USAR Soldiers serving as IMAs after completing qualifying service and on recommendation of the unit commander or DA official to which the IMA is assigned. Approval authority for award of the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal for ARNG M-Day units and USAR TPU Soldiers is the unit commander. Approval authority for award of the ARCAM to USAR IMA Soldiers is Commander, U.S. Army Human Resources Command. g. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal may be awarded to service members who, after 1 July 1958 (1) Participate, or have participated, as members of the U.S. military units in a U.S. military operation in which service members of any military department participate, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in significant numbers; (2) Encounter during such participation foreign-armed opposition, or are otherwise placed, or have been placed, in such position that, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, hostile action by foreign armed forces were imminent even though it did not materialize. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal may be authorized for the following three categories of operations: (1) U.S. military operations; (2) U.S. operations in direct support of the United Nations (UN); and (3) U.S. operations of assistance for friendly foreign nations. Service members must be bona fide members of a unit participating in or be engaged in the direct support of the operation for 30 consecutive days in the area of operations (or for the full period when an operation is less than 30 days duration) or for 60 nonconsecutive days provided this support involved entering the area of operations or and meets one or more of other criteria (combat, wounded in action, etc). Qualifying service for this award does not include Alaska or Japan. 14. Title 32, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 578 lists and discusses all official U.S. military decorations, medals, ribbons, and similar devices; commemorative medals are not listed as official. Some commemorative medals are authorized by the U.S. Congress and are minted by the U.S. Mint. However, Army Regulation 670-1 (Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia) prohibits the wearing of commemorative medals. 15. The Cold War Recognition Certificate is not shown on a discharge document. Public Law (PL) 105–85, Section 1084, established a Cold War Recognition Certificate to recognize all Service members of the U.S. Armed Forces and qualified Federal Government civilian personnel who faithfully and honorably served the United States during the Cold War Era from 2 September 1945 to 26 December 1991. The Cold War Recognition System Web page announces the program and provides instructions for individual requests. The HRC website below is the only official site on which to request Cold War Recognition Certificates. This site is operated by the U.S. Army, the executive agency for the Cold War Recognition Program. Cold War Recognition Certificates are available to qualified individuals at no cost. The applicant may submit a request in writing to Commander, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Cold War Recognition, Fort Knox, KY 40122. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. Most commemorative medals are not officially recognized. Some commemorative medals are authorized by the U.S. Congress and are minted by the U.S. Mint. However, Army Regulation 670-1 prohibits the wearing of commemorative medals and they are not governed by the provisions of Army Regulation 600-8-22. There is no regulatory provision to list or issue such medals. These include * Meritorious Unit Citation Commemorative Service Ribbon * Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Commemorative Ribbon with Palm Leaf (Individual Award) * Cold War Commemorative Service Ribbon * Overseas Commemorative Service Medal (Alaska) * Combat Service Commemorative Medal (Vietnam) * NATO Service Commemorative Medal * National Guard/U.S. Army Reserve Commemorative Medal * UN Military Service Commemorative Medal (Korea) 2. The Meritorious Unit Commendation (not Citation): the applicant does not meet the criteria to add this unit award to his DD Form 214. a. DAGO Number 17, dated 23 April 1968, awarded Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Signal Brigade, (and only one attached unit, the 23rd Military History Detachment) the Meritorious Unit Commendation for service from 1 April 1966 to 31 July 1967. He was not assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Signal Brigade in Vietnam. b. DAGO Number 42 awarded the U.S. Army Strategic Communications Command Facility, Vietnam the Meritorious Unit Commendation for service from November 1964 to May 1965. He was assigned to this unit from 13 December 1965 to 7 December 1966, after the period of eligibility. 3. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Leaf and Gold Frame: like all units in Vietnam, his unit was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation (as a unit; not as an individual award). This foreign unit award is not listed on his DD Form 214. 4. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was not authorized for Alaska or Japan. It is authorized for Korea and the applicant's DD Form 214 lists this award during the period covered by the respective DD Form 214. 5. The Vietnam Service Medal is already listed on the applicant's DD Form 214. Additionally his participation in three campaigns is shown as 3CC. As a matter of clarity, the DD Form 214 should have listed this as the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars to designate his participation in three campaigns. 6. With respect to the Foreign Expeditionary Medal (Alaska), Armed Services Expert Marksmanship Medal, Honorable Service Medal, and Armed Forces Retired Service Medal, there are no such awards or medals in the DOD Awards Manual or in the governing Army Regulation. 7. With respect to the American Defense Service Medal, this award was authorized for service between 8 September 1939 and 7 December 1941. He did not enter active duty until 1953. He does not meet the criteria for this award. 8. With respect to the Korea Defense Service Medal, he served a qualifying period of service in Korea from December 1969 to January 1971 for award of the Korea Defense Service Medal. This award is not listed on his DD Form 214. 9. As for the United Nations Service Medal (Korea), this award is authorized for service in Korea for periods between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954. His Korea service was from December 1969 to January 1971, after the period of eligibility. He does not meet the criteria for this award. 10. As for the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, he was never a member of a Reserve Component TPU or IMA. He was assigned to the USAR Control Group (Reinforcement) between August 1956 (date initially separated) and August 1958 (date he reentered active duty). He did not serve as a member of an RC a period of 10 years within a period of 12 consecutive years and accumulated a minimum of 50 retirement points each year. He does not meet the criteria for this award. 11. With respect to the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, this was established on 3 March 1971 and is awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity while serving as a member of an ARNG or USAR TPU or IMA. The applicant was not in a TPU or an IMA at any time after this award was established. He does not meet the criteria for this award. 12. As for the Cold War Certificate, although there is no provision to list this award on the DD Form 214, the applicant may submit a request in writing to Commander, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Cold War Recognition, Fort Knox, KY 40122. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ____X____ ____X____ ____X____ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: * deleting from his DD Form 214, ending on 31 January 1976, the Vietnam Service Medal with 3CC * adding to his DD Form 214, ending on 31 January 1976 the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, and Korea Defense Service Medal 2. The Board further determined that the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief. As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to any corrections in excess of those described above. _______ _ __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) AR20150008024 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150008024 10 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1