ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


                 

                   BOARD DATE:  22 January 2019

                   DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20170012019


APPLICANT REQUESTS: Correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United 
States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to add:

*	Bronze Star Medal
*	Combat Infantryman Badge

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

*	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
*	General Orders (GO) Number 2170, dated 11 April 1968
*	Purple Heart Certificate
*	Bronze Star Medal Certificate
*	DD Form 214, dated 15 November 1968

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 Bronze Star Medal was not placed on his DD Form 214 and 
he was never awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge even though he served and 
fought in Vietnam.

3.  A review of the applicant’s service records shows the following:

*	17 November 1966 – inducted into the Army of the United States in military 
occupational specialty (MOS) 11B (Light Weapons Infantryman)
*	DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows in item:

*	31 (Foreign Service) Vietnam 30 April 1967 – 7 March 1968
*	38 (Record of Assignments) he was assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 
12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division
*	excellent conduct and efficiency reports 
*	41 (Awards and Decorations) National Defense Service Medal; Republic of 
Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device; Purple Heart; Army Good 
Conduct Medal (1st Award)

4.  U. S. Army Vietnam Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) governed the 
military awards program in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.  It stated the Bronze Star 
Medal may have been awarded for heroism or for meritorious achievement or service 
which did not involve aerial flight but which was performed in connection with military 
operations against an armed enemy including combat.  His record is void of any orders 
awarding him the Bronze Star Medal.

5.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides the requirements for the 
Combat Infantryman Badge.  His record is void of any orders awarding him the Combat 
Infantryman Badge.

6.  On 15 November 1968, he was honorably released from active duty.  His DD Form 
214 shows he completed 1 year, 11 months and 29 days of net service with 10 months 
and 7 days of foreign service.  He was awarded or authorized:

*	Vietnam Service Medal
*	Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device
*	Army Good Conduct Medal
*	Purple Heart
*	National Defense Service Medal
*	Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar

7.  The applicant provides:

*	GO Orders Number 2170, showing he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds 
received in connection with military operations against a hostile force
*	photographs of his Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal Certificates (illegible 
name and dates)

BOARD DISCUSSION:

The Board considered the applicant’s request with all supporting documents, evidence 
in the service record, and applicable regulations, policy, and guidance.  He served in 
Vietnam from 30 April 1967 to 07 March 1968 as an Infantryman with to B Company, 
2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division.  During that time he was awarded the 
Purple Heart for wounds received in connection with military operations against a hostile 
force as stated in GO Orders Number 2170.  The applicant provided photos of both a 
Certificate for the award of the Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star.  The preponderance 
of evidence is sufficient to meet the criterial for the Bronze Star Medal, and the Combat 
Infantryman Badge.  The Board finds the applicant’s request is warranted.

BOARD VOTE:

Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

:X	:X	:X	GRANT FULL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT FORMAL HEARING

:	:	:	DENY APPLICATION


BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

1.  The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a 
recommendation for relief.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of 
the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending his DD Form 
214 to add the following:

*	Bronze Star Medal
*	Combat Infantryman Badge

2.  As a related item his DD Form 214 should be amended as follows:

*	Awarding the applicant the Army Good Conduct Medal from 17 November 1966 
to 15 November 1968
*	Deleting from his DD Form 214 the Vietnam Service Medal
*	Adding to his DD Form 214:

o	Vietnam Service Medal with 3 bronze service stars
o	Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation
o	Presidential Unit Citation
o	Valorous Unit Citation


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SIGNATURE:

				  
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):

1.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states a bronze service star is awarded 
for wear on the Vietnam Service Medal for participation in each campaign.  During his 
service in Vietnam, campaign participation credit was awarded for the following three 
campaigns.

*	Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase II, 1 July 1966 – 31 May 1967
*	Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase III, 1 June 1967 – 29 January 1968
*	Tet Counteroffensive, 30 January 1968 – 1 April 1968

2.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 shows:

*	all units in Vietnam were awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with 
Palm Unit Citation as confirmed by Department of the Army General Order 
(DAGO) Number 8, dated 1974
*	during his service in Vietnam his unit was awarded the:

*	Presidential Unit Citation from 2 January – 12 February 1968 as confirmed 
by DAGO Number 42, dated 1970
*	Valorous Unit Award from 1-31 October 1967 as confirmed by DAGO 
Number 39, dated 1970

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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.  U. S. Army Vietnam Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) governed the 
military awards program in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.  It stated the Bronze Star 
Medal may have been awarded for heroism or for meritorious achievement or service 
which did not involve aerial flight but which was performed in connection with military 
operations against an armed enemy including combat, support, and supply operations.  
The approval authority for award of the Bronze Star Medal was generally delegated no 
lower than brigadier generals in command of separate brigades.  However, the records 
of the Awards Branch of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command show that 
authority for award of the Bronze Star Medal for service had been delegated to colonels 
in command of the U.S. Army Support Commands located at Saigon, Cam Ranh Bay, 
and Qui Nhon and in command of separate engineer brigades in Vietnam assigned to 
the U.S. Army Engineer Troops (Provisional).

3.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states there are basically three 
requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  The Soldier must be an 
infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, he must be assigned to an infantry 
unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and he must 
actively participate in such ground combat.  

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20170012019
	
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