IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 13 April 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150017108 BOARD VOTE: ___x____ ___x____ ___x____ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 13 April 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150017108 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant amendment of the ABCMR's decision in Docket Number AR20100025036, dated 12 April 2011. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. deleting the Vietnam Service Medal from his DD Form 214; and b. adding to his DD Form 214 the: * Purple Heart * Army Commendation Medal * Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars _____________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: 13 April 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150017108 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 previous request to add the Purple Heart (PH) and Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) to his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge). 2. The applicant states the PH and ARCOM were left off his DD Form 214. The board should consider this application and properly identify and record the military decorations he earned. 3. The applicant provides copies of Headquarters, I Field Force Vietnam: * General Orders (GO) 535, dated 8 May 1970 (with certificate) * GO 1490, dated 19 November 1970 (with certificate and citation) * Transmittal of Award, dated 26 January 1971 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 AR20100025036 on 12 April 2011. 2. The applicant provided new evidence that requires reconsideration of his case. 3. The applicant's record shows he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 27 August 1969 and he was trained in and awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 11B (Light Weapons Infantryman). He was promoted to specialist four (SP4)/E-4 on 12 July 1970 and this is the highest rank he attained while serving on active duty. 4. The applicant's DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he served in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) from 30 January through 16 October 1970 until he returned to the United States and was assigned to Fort Belvior, Virginia. 5. The applicant's DA Form 20 shows in: a. Item 38 (Record of Assignments) that during his RVN tour of duty, he was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry Regiment, performing duties in MOS 11B as an assistant machine gunner. b. Item 40 (Wounds) no entries. c. Item 41 (Awards and Decorations) no entries for the PH or ARCOM. 6. No medical treatment records are available. 7. On 26 August 1971, the applicant was honorably released from active duty (REFRAD) after completing 2 years of active military service. Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of the DD Form 214 he was issued shows he earned the following awards: * Army Good Conduct Medal * National Defense Service Medal * Vietnam Service Medal * RVN Campaign Medal * Combat Infantryman Badge * Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar 8. The applicant's name is not listed on the Vietnam Casualty Roster. 9. A review of the Awards and Decorations Computer Assisted Retrieval System (ADCARS), an index of general orders issued during the Vietnam era between 1965 and 1973 maintained by the Awards and Decorations Branch of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, failed to reveal orders for the PH pertaining to the applicant. 10. However, the applicant provides in support of his application copies of Headquarters, I Field Force Vietnam: * GO 535, dated 8 May 1970, awarding the PH * GO 1490, dated 19 November 1970, awarding him the ARCOM * Transmittal of Award, dated 26 January 1971, showing the ARCOM, certificate, citation, and GO were forwarded to the Commanding General, Fort Belvoir, Virginia for filing in the applicant’s record and for presentation to him 11. The applicant's military personnel records are void of the orders that he provided showing award of the PH and ARCOM. REFERENCES: Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) contains the Army's awards policy. It states individual awards must be recommended, approved by proper authority, and announced in official orders. a. Paragraph 2-8 contains guidance on the PH. It states in order to support award of the PH, there must be evidence the wound for which the award is being made was received as a result of enemy action, the wound required treatment by military medical personnel, and a record of the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record. b. Paragraph 2-17 contains guidance on the ARCOM. It states the ARCOM is awarded for meritorious service, achievement, and valor (heroism). As with any individual award, it must be recommended, approved by proper authority, and announced in official orders. The wartime approval authority for the ARCOM may be delegated to colonel-level commanders. c. A bronze service star is authorized for wear with the Vietnam Service Medal for each Vietnam campaign a member is credited with participating in. During his service in Vietnam, the applicant participated in two campaigns: * Vietnam Winter - Spring 1970 1 November 1969 - 30 April 1970 * Sanctuary Counteroffensive 1 May - 30 June 1970 DISCUSSION: 1. The evidence of record shows GO awarded the applicant the PH and ARCOM. 2. The applicant provided a copy of Headquarters, I Field Force Vietnam, Transmittal of Award, dated 26 January 1971, that shows the ARCOM certificate, citation, and GO’s were forwarded to the Commanding General, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. This helps to establish the validity of the applicant’s award. 3. The evidence of record shows the applicant served in Vietnam during two designated campaign periods and he is authorized two bronze service stars for wear on his previously awarded Vietnam Service Medal. 4. There appears to be sufficient evidence to correct his DD Form 214 by adding the PH, ARCOM, and two bronze stars to be worn on the Vietnam Service Medal. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150017108 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150017108 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2