BOARD DATE: 5 September 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170002194 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 BOARD DATE: 5 September 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170002194 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 for correction of the records of the individual concerned. _______________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. BOARD DATE: 5 September 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170002194 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 for correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to add the Army Commendation Medal and the Bronze Star Medal. 2. The applicant states he received the Bronze Star Medal and the Army Commendation Medal for his service in the Republic of Vietnam and these two medals should be included on his DD Form 214. He served and earned these medals and his DD Form 214 should reflect these awards. 3. The applicant provides a copy of his Bronze Star Medal certificate and its accompanying citation. 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 AC86-02146 on 17 February 1988. 2. The applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 9 July 1968. He served in the Republic of Vietnam from 12 February 1969 to 11 February 1970. 3. General Order 10656, dated 21 July 1969, issued by Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division awarded him the Army Commendation Medal for his period of service from February to July 1969. 4. His personnel record does not contain orders awarding him the Bronze Star Medal. 5. During his tour in the Republic of Vietnam he was assigned to the following units: * 9th Administrative Company, 9th Infantry Division from 26 February to 25 July 1969 * Company A (Administrative), 3rd Brigade from 26 July to 31 October 1969 * Company A, 99th Combat Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division from 1 November 1969 to 26 January 1970 6. Item 41 (Awards and Decorations) of his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) does not show the Bronze Star Medal. There is no order announcing award of the Bronze Star Medal in his military personnel record. 7. On 11 February 1970, the applicant was honorably released from active duty. He was issued a DD Form 214 showing, in pertinent part: a. item 22c (Foreign and/or Sea Service) – 11 months and 29 days; b. item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendation, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) does not include the Bronze Star Medal or the Army Commendation Medal. However, he did receive service ribbons for his service in the Republic of Vietnam. 8. On 17 February 1988, the ABCMR denied the applicant's request for the Bronze Star Medal. The Board granted him partial relief by issuing him a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214) to add the Army Commendation Medal as an authorized award. 9. The applicant provided his Bronze Star Medal certificate and citation showing he received these documents for his service in the Republic of Vietnam from February 1969 to February 1970. The certificate is signed by a lieutenant general. There is no accompanying award order to support the certificate and citation. 10. During the processing of this case, an inquiry was made to the U.S. Army Human Resources Command. An official conducted a search of the Awards and Decorations Computer Assisted Retrieval System (ADCARS), an index of general orders issued during the Vietnam era between 1965 and 1973, and did not locate orders awarding the applicant the Bronze Star Medal. General Orders 10656 was found within ADCARS. This order announced award of the Army Commendation Medal. REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Department of the Amy policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. Awards made by the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of the Army are announced in Department of the Army general orders. Awards of decorations and the Army Good Conduct Medal will be announced in permanent orders by the appropriate awards approval authority. Service medals and ribbons are administratively awarded to individuals who meet the qualifying criteria. During the Vietnam era, awards were announced by general orders provided the commanding general approved the award. 2. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), then in effect, established the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. This regulation states for item 24 to enter all awards for all periods of service. Check the Soldier's records for validity of awards. In addition, to correct a DD Form 214 up to two DD Forms 215 are authorized for issuance before there is a regulatory requirement to issue a new DD Form 214. DISCUSSION: 1. The ABCMR issued the applicant a DD Form 215, which added the Army Commendation Medal to his DD Form 214. Together these two documents represent the applicant's discharge documents. 2. The applicant provided copies of a Bronze Star Medal citation and its accompanying certificate; however, neither document contained the award order. A search of ADCARS resulted in finding his Army Commendation Medal orders only, but no Bronze Star Medal orders. It is noted a lieutenant general signed his certificate and that the period of the award covers his entire period of service in Vietnam. Additionally, the Bronze Star Medal was commonly awarded as an end of tour award for service in Vietnam. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20170002194 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20170002194 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2