IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 21 July 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150011207 BOARD VOTE: _________ _______ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ___x____ ___x____ ___x ____ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 21 July 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150011207 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis to amend the decision of the ABCMR set forth in Docket Number AR20140016551, dated 19 May 2015. _____________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. IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 21 July 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150011207 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 prior request for correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to reflect a second award of the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) and a letter of commendation. 2. The applicant states: * he appreciates the prior corrections to his records and the prompt delivery of the relevant medals * he wishes to call attention to the fact that the record of proceedings pertaining to his previous request did not address two items * he previously requested award of the PUC based on its award to U.S. Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) Advisory Teams 3 and 4 in Department of the Army General Orders (DAGO) Number 23 * the 37th Signal Battalion was attached to MACV and provided direct support, but no mention of this PUC was made in the record of proceedings * he was awarded the PUC based on its direct award to the 37th Signal Battalion in DAGO Number 30 * it is unclear if MACV's PUC would be considered a second authorized PUC, considering the two PUCs cover different time periods * the prior record of proceedings also made no mention of his request to add the letter of commendation to his DD Form 214 * he acknowledges he does not have a copy of the letter of commendation to submit for review and is dependent upon the Board finding a copy of it in his Army records or in the 6th Infantry Division's records 3. The applicant provides a two-page list of errors and omissions that was previously provided with his original application. 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 AR20140016551 on 19 May 2015. 2. The applicant's contention that his request for correction of his DD Form 214 to include a second award of the PUC and a letter of commendation was not addressed in the prior record of proceedings is a new argument, and thus warrants consideration by the board at this time. 3. The applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 25 July 1966 and was discharged on 28 July 1966 for the purpose of immediate enlistment in the Regular Army. He completed 4 days active service during this period. He enlisted in the Regular Army on 29 July 1966. 4. Item 38 (Record of Assignments) of his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows in he served in Vietnam from 25 February 1967 through 4 February 1968 where he was assigned to Company B, 37th Signal Battalion (Support), 1st Signal Brigade. Item 41 (Awards and Decorations) of his DA Form 20 does not list the PUC or a letter of commendation. 5. He was honorably released from active duty and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve on 2 June 1969. Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 for this period does not show award of a PUC or a letter of commendation. 6. DAGO Number 23 awarded the PUC to the 1st Infantry Division, Army of the Republic of Vietnam, and attached units for the period 1 January 1967 through 25 February 1968. The DAGO specifically enumerate all assigned units and attached units of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam as well as assigned units of the U.S. Army authorized award of the PUC. While MACV Advisory Teams 3 and 4 are listed as assigned units, neither the 37th Signal Battalion nor the 1st Signal Brigade is listed as an assigned or attached unit. 7. The applicant provided multiple operational reports with his previous application that show the 37th Signal Battalion provided communications support to MACV advisor elements in the I Corps Tactical Zone in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967. REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. Paragraph 10-15 (Letters of Commendation and Appreciation) states acts or services which do not meet the criteria for decorations or the various authorized certificates may be recognized by written or oral expressions of commendation or appreciation. A written expression of commendation or appreciation will be typed on letterhead stationery and will not contain formalized printing, seals, or other distinguishing features that depart from normal letter format. Such letters may be issued to military personnel. Copies of each letter of commendation or appreciation will be distributed to the individual's Official Military Personnel File. 2. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists the awards received by units serving in Vietnam. This pamphlet shows the 37th Signal Battalion was awarded the: * Meritorious Unit Commendation for the period 19 December 1966 through 30 September 1967 by DAGO Number 66, dated 1968 * PUC for the period 20 January 1968 through 1 April 1968 by DAGO Number 30, dated 1968 3. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, prescribed the separation documents that would be furnished to each individual who was separated from the Army and established standardized procedures for preparation and distribution of these documents. The instructions for item 24 stated to enter all decorations, service medals, campaign credits, and badges listed on the DA Form 20 as awarded or authorized during the period covered by the DD Form 214. DISCUSSION: 1. The applicant's military records do not contain evidence showing he was issued a letter of commendation as acknowledgment of his service in Vietnam in or about July 1968. Furthermore, letters of commendation are not recorded on the DD Form 214. 2. Army Pamphlet 672-3 shows the 37th Signal Battalion was awarded the PUC for the period 20 January 1968 through 1 April 1968 by DAGO Number 30, dated 1968. This is the only authorized PUC for the 37th Signal Battalion. This PUC is already reflected in the applicant's corrected records as the result of prior board action set forth in Docket Number AR20140016551, dated 19 May 2015. 3. Although documentation provided by the applicant shows the 37th Signal Battalion provided communications support to MACV advisor elements in the I Corps Tactical Zone in Vietnam, it does not show the battalion was assigned or attached to any MACV elements. 4. DAGO Number 23, dated 1969, awarded the PUC to the 1st Infantry Division, Army of the Republic of Vietnam, and attached units for the period 1 January 1967 through 25 February 1968. Despite the applicant's contentions, DAGO Number 23 does not authorize award of the PUC to the 37th Signal Battalion. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150011207 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150011207 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2