ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 14 June 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170005328 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show all awards and decorations: * Air Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster) * Meritorious Unit Citation * Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal * Bronze service stars for the Vietnam Service Medal * Good Conduct Medal * Valorous Unit Citation (Possible) APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Self-Authored Statement * Combat Air Missions Log with Statement FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the three year time frame provided in Title 10, United States Code (USC), section 1552 (b); however, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records conducted a substantive review of this case and determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. 2. The applicant states his DD Form 214 does not list all of his medals and he would like an updated DD Form 215 with the list of medals he has provided in addition to recognizing his additional Combat Air Missions. The list includes the above-listed awards. 3. The applicant provides a log of 54 combat air missions from 4 June 1969 to 29 January 1970. He further noted they were transcribed from his flight log book and provides additional details for flight information and missions. 4. A review of the applicant’s service record shows: a. He enlisted in the Regular Army on 14 February 1967. b. He served in Germany from 30 December 1967 to April 1969. c. He also served in Vietnam through 3 campaigns from 10 April 1969 to February 1970. He was assigned to the 184th Chemical Platoon (Airmobile), 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) as a 54D, Chemical Equipment Repairman. c. He was honorably released from active duty on 6 February 1970. His DD Form 214 shows he completed 2 years, 11 months, and 23 days of active service. It also shows he was awarded or authorized: * National Defense Service Medal * Vietnam Service Medal * Vietnam Campaign Medal * Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm * Bronze Star Medal 5. On 15 June 1970, U.S. Army Human Resources Command (HRC), Awards and Decorations Branch reviewed the forwarded documentation and historical resources. A DD Form 215, dated 14 June 2017, was issued verifying the applicant’s entitlement to the following awards: * Army Good Conduct Medal * Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars * Meritorious Unit Commendation * Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar * Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal Unit Citation, First Class 6. A decision was also rendered by HRC that entitlement to the Air Medal could not be verified, but receipt of his unofficial flight log was acknowledged. Additionally, the applicant was not entitled to the Presidential Unit Citation and Valorous Unit Award because the 184th Chemical Platoon (Airmobile) was not authorized the unit awards during his service period in the Republic of Vietnam. 7. By regulation, award of the Air Medal requires a formal recommendation, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders. 8. U.S. Army Vietnam (USARV) Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) provided guidelines for award of the Air Medal. It stated passenger personnel who did not participate in an air assault were not eligible for the award based upon sustained operations. It defined terms and provided guidelines for the award based upon the number and types of missions or hours. Twenty-five Category I missions (air assault and equally dangerous missions) and accrual of a minimum of 25 hours of flight time while engaged in Category I missions was the standard established for which sustained operations were deemed worthy of recognition by an award of the Air Medal. However, the regulation was clear that these guidelines were considered only a departure point. Combat missions were divided into three categories. a. A category I mission was defined as a mission performed in an assault role in which a hostile force was engaged and was characterized by delivery of ordnance against the hostile force or delivery of friendly troops or supplies into the immediate combat operations area. b. A category II mission was characterized by support rendered a friendly force immediately before, during, or immediately following a combat operation. c. A category III mission was characterized by support of friendly forces not connected with an immediate combat operation but which must have been accomplished at altitudes which made the aircraft at times vulnerable to small arms fire or under hazardous weather or terrain conditions. d. To be recommended for award of the Air Medal, an individual must have completed a minimum of 25 category I missions, 50 category II missions, or 100 category III missions. Since various types of missions would have been completed in accumulating flight time toward award of an Air Medal for sustained operations, different computations would have had to be made to combine category I, II, and III flight times and adjust it to a common denominator. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found the relief was not warranted. HRC gave him awards as requested and denied the VUA. Deny the Air Medal. No evidence the provided log is his. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING X X X DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. 2. 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. ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE(S): Not Applicable REFERENCES: 1. Title 10, USC, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within three 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 three-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. 2. Army Regulation (AR) 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual military decorations. The Air Medal is awarded in time of war for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service while participating in aerial flight. This award is primarily intended for personnel on flying status but may also be awarded to those personnel whose combat duties require them to fly; for example, personnel in the attack elements of units involved in air-land assaults against an armed enemy. As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required. 3. U.S. Army Vietnam (USARV) Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) provided guidelines for award of the Air Medal. It stated passenger personnel who did not participate in an air assault were not eligible for the award based upon sustained operations. It defined terms and provided guidelines for the award based upon the number and types of missions or hours. Twenty-five Category I missions (air assault and equally dangerous missions) and accrual of a minimum of 25 hours of flight time while engaged in Category I missions was the standard established for which sustained operations were deemed worthy of recognition by an award of the Air Medal. However, the regulation was clear that these guidelines were considered only a departure point. a. Combat missions were divided into three categories. A category I mission was defined as a mission performed in an assault role in which a hostile force was engaged and was characterized by delivery of ordnance against the hostile force or delivery of friendly troops or supplies into the immediate combat operations area. A category II mission was characterized by support rendered a friendly force immediately before, during, or immediately following a combat operation. A category III mission was characterized by support of friendly forces not connected with an immediate combat operation but which must have been accomplished at altitudes which made the aircraft at times vulnerable to small arms fire or under hazardous weather or terrain conditions. b. To be recommended for award of the Air Medal, an individual must have completed a minimum of 25 category I missions, 50 category II missions, or 100 category III missions. Since various types of missions would have been completed in accumulating flight time toward award of an Air Medal for sustained operations, different computations would have had to be made to combine category I, II, and III flight times and adjust it to a common denominator. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20170005328 5 1