ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 18 April 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170011675 APPLICANT REQUESTS: Correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), dated 13 June 1991, to show his secondary military occupational specialty (MOS) and the following awards: * Two awards of the Army Commendation Medal * Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal First Class Unit Citation Badge * Kuwait Liberation Medal APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record (PQR)) * DD Form 214, for period ending 12 March 1970 and 13 June 1991 * DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards) * Orders Number 10-1 * Two Army Commendation Medal Certificates * Excerpt of DA Form 638 (Recommendation for Award) * National Guard Bureau (NGB) Form 22 (NGB Report of Separation and Record of Service) 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 is missing awards. He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion and cannot in good faith wear an honor guard uniform with medals that are not shown on his DD Form 214. 3. The applicant is eligible for additional awards not listed on his DD Form 214. As a result, these awards will be added as an administrative correction and do not require an action by the Board. The Board will consider one award of the Army Commendation Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal First Class Unit Citation and the issue of adding his secondary MOS to his DD Form 214. 4. A review of the applicant’s service record shows the following: a. On 20 March 1967, he enlisted in the Regular Army. He served in Vietnam from 16 October 1967 to 15 October 1968. His unit of assignment in Vietnam is unknown. b. He was honorably released from active duty and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve on 12 March 1970. His DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) shows he completed 2 years, 11 months, and 23 days. It also shows he was awarded or authorized: * Good Conduct Medal * Vietnam Service Medal * Vietnam Campaign Medal * National Defense Service Medal * Meritorious Unit Citation * Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-14) c. On 20 December 1988, he was awarded the secondary MOS of 95B (Military Police). d. On 13 June 1991, he was ordered to active duty in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He served in Southwest Asia from 30 January 1991 to 23 May 1991. e. Permanent Orders Number 012-012, issued by Headquarters, 63rd Army Reserve Command on 12 December 1992, awarded him the Army Commendation Medal. f. He provides a DA Form 1577 which shows his authorized awards from the Chief, Awards Branch (Entitlements Division). g. He was honorably released from active duty on 13 June 1991. His DD Form 214 shows he completed 5 months and 11 days of active service. It also shows he was awarded or authorized: * Army Service Ribbon * National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star * Army Lapel Button * Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal * Army Achievement Medal * Good Conduct Medal * Vietnam Service Medal * Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal * Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star * Meritorious Unit Citation * Expert Badge with Rifle Bar and Pistol Component Bars 5. A review of the Awards and Decorations Computer-Assisted Retrieval System (ADCARS), an index of general orders issued during the Vietnam era between 1967 and 1968 maintained by the Military Awards Branch of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, failed to reveal additional awards for the applicant. 6. His service record is void of any orders awarding the Army Commendation Medal. 7. By regulation: a. The Army Commendation Medal is awarded for heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service. Award of the Army Commendation Medal requires a formal recommendation, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in permanent orders. b. For enlisted members, the primary MOS and all additional MOS served for a period of one year or more, during a Soldier’s continuous active military service will be added to the DD Form 214. 8. DA Pamphlet 672-3 (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 during the Vietnam Conflict. In order to determine if a unit received a specific unit award or citation, the unit’s name and period of service must be known. Award of the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation cannot be determined. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that partial relief was warranted. Based upon the documentary evidence presented by the applicant and that found within the military service record, the Board concluded documentary evidence shows the applicant was awarded or was eligible for being awarded the following awards not currently on his DD Form 214: * Army Commendation Medal * Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) * Kuwait Liberation Medal (Government of Kuwait) However, based upon the documents provided and found within the service record, the Board found no evidence that the applicant was ever awarded a second Army Commendation Medal. For that reason, the Board recommended granting partial relief. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF X X X DENY APPLICATION : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending his DD Form 214 by adding: * Army Commendation Medal * Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) * Kuwait Liberation Medal (Government of Kuwait) * SMOS: 95B 2. The Board further determined 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 awarding the Army Commendation Medal (2nd Award). 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. 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) 672-5-1 (Military Awards), in effect at the time, states the Army Commendation Medal may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, distinguishes himself or herself by heroism, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service. Awards of decorations will be announced in permanent orders by the commanders authorized to make the awards. 3. AR 635-5 (Personnel Separations – Separation Documents), in effect at the time, states for item 11 (Primary Specialty), enter the primary military occupational specialty (MOS) or area of concentration (AOC), and all additional MOS/AOC served for a period of one year or more, during Soldier’s continuous active military service. For each MOS/AOC, list the title with the years and months served. The entries must be validated on the DA Forms 2A, 2-1, or the record briefs. 4. DA Pamphlet 672-3 (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 during the Vietnam Conflict. In order to determine if a unit received a specific unit award or citation, the unit’s name and period of service must be known. Award of the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation cannot be determined. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20170011675 5 1