ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:  12 June 2019

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20170013527


APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States (U.S. Report of Transfer or Discharge) as follows:

* block 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) add Vietnam Defense Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM), and the Joint Service Commendation Medal (JSCM) and reconsideration of his previous request for marksmanship qualification badges for rifle M14 and pistol .45
* correction of his DA Form 1307 (Individual Jump Record) 

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 
DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record).

FACTS:

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 Numbers AR20140040064 on 3 March 2015 and AR20150011646 on 21 June 2016.

2.  The applicant states he rotated back to a top secret facility in the U.S. at Scott Air Force Base and his records were incomplete in Okanawa and never updated to show any of his requests above.  After his research he meets the criteria for all of the above awards.  Research records for 2nd Airborne Battle Group, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade.  He was there when General X___ came aboard.

3.  The applicant's request for reconsideration of his previous requests for the marksmanship qualification badges for the M14 rifle and pistol .45 and correction of his DA Form 1307 does not contain any new evidence or argument.  He does not meet the criteria for reconsideration; therefore, this portion of his request pertaining to reconsideration will not be discussed further in this Record of Proceedings.

4.  A review of the applicant’s service record shows:

	a.  He enlisted in the Regular Army on 5 February 1962.

	b.  On 8 February 1965, he was honorably released from active duty and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve Control Group (Reinforcement).  He completed 3 years of active service with 0 years, 0 months, and 0 days of foreign service and he had 4 days of lost time from 27 to 30 July 1964.  His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded or authorized:

* Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar 
* Parachutist Badge
* Block 32 (Remarks), No listing of any deployments

5.  There is no record or indication (entry on a personnel record, award certificate, orders, or other documents) that shows he served in Vietnam. 

6.  On 3 March 2015, in regards to his first submission for the Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-14) and Pistol Bar and correction of his DA Form 1307, (Docket Number AR20140040064), the Board determined that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice and the overall merits of the case were insufficient as a basis for correction of the applicant’s records.  On 26 March 2015, he was issued a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) that corrected his DD Form 214 to show National Defense Service Medal. 

7.  On 21 June 2016, in regards to his reconsideration request for the Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-14) and Pistol Bar and correction of his DA Form 1307 (Docket Number AR20150011646), the Board determined that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice and the overall merits of the case were insufficient as a basis for correction of the applicant’s records.

8.  By regulation (AR 600-8-22 (Military Awards)):

	a.  The Joint Service Commendation Medal is authorized by the Secretary of Defense for award to members of the Armed Forces of the U.S. who, after 1 January 1963, distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement or service.  It is not awarded by the Department of the Army and is outside the purview of this Board.

	b.  The Vietnam Service Medal is awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the U.S. for qualifying service in Vietnam after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973.  Qualifying service included attachment to or assignment for 1 or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations.

	c.  The Vitenam Campaign Medal is awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the U.S. for qualifying service in Vietnam during the period 1 March 1961 through 
28 March 1973.  Qualifying service included assignment in Vietnam for 6 months or more.

BOARD DISCUSSION:

After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board determined that relief was not warranted.  Based upon the request for correction to the applicant’s jump record not being clear to the Board what was in error that required correction, the Board recommended denying that portion of the request.

Additionally, based upon the information on the applicant’s DA20, as well as other documents within the service record, the Board found insufficient evidence that the applicant served in Vietnam, so the requested awards related to Vietnam service was also recommended for denial.

Finally, based upon the marksmanship documents stating the applicant was firing for familiarization and not qualification, the Board recommended denying the applicant’s request to add marksmanship badges.

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:

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.
	 
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.  Army Regulation (AR) 600-8--22 (Military Awards) in effect at the time, prescribes the policies and procedures for military awards and decorations.  

	a.  Paragraph 2–6 provides, in pertinent part, that the Joint Service Commendation Medal was authorized by the Secretary of Defense on 25 June 1963 and implemented by DOD 1348.33-M.  The award is awarded in the name of the Secretary of Defense to members of the Armed Forces of the United States (U.S.) who, after 1 January 1963, distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement or service.

	b.  Paragraph 2–14 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the Vietnam Service Medal.  This medal was established by Executive Order (EO) 11231, 8 July 1965, as amended by EO 13286, 2 February 2003.  It is awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the U.S. for qualifying service in Vietnam and its contiguous waters or airspace there over, after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973.  Qualifying service included attachment to or assignment for 1 or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations.

	c.  Paragraph 9-14 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM).  The VCM was awarded by the government of the Republic of Vietnam to all members of the Armed Forces of the U.S. for qualifying service in Vietnam during the period 1 March 1961 through 28 March 1973.  Qualifying service included assignment in Vietnam for 6 months or more.  Also, the VCM may be awarded to individuals who qualified for award of the Vietnam Service Medal or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and served for less than six months of service but:

* were wounded as a result of hostile action 
* were captured by hostile forces but later escaped or were rescued or released
* were killed in action or otherwise in line of duty

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	AR20170013527


4


1