I BOARD DATE: 2 April 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170013783 APPLICANT'S REQUESTS: Correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show the sixth digit of his Social Security Number (SSN) as 0 instead of 9 and to add the Purple Heart. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Medicare health insurance card with SSN xxx-xx-xxxx and driver’s license * General Orders (GO) Number 4315, issued by Headquarters, Americal Division on 16 July 1968 * DA Form 214 ending period, 7 August 1968 FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the three year time frame provided in Title 10, U.S. Code, 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 SSN is xxx-xx-xxxx not xxx-xx-xxx as listed on his DD Form 214. He also has attached orders for the Purple Heart, which is not listed on his DD Form 214. 3. A review of the applicant’s service record shows the following: a. He was inducted into the Army of the United States on 6 October 1966. b. His DA Form 398 (Statement of Personal History) and DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record), listed the sixth digit of his SSN as 0. c. Headquarters, 1st Armored Division, Fort Hood, TX, published: * Unit Orders Number 19, on 24 February 1967, awarded him the Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Machine Gun Bar (M-60) * Special Orders Number 174, on 24 July 1967, awarded him the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-16) d. He served in Vietnam from on or about 10 August 1967 to on or about 3 August 1968. He was assigned to B Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division. e. Headquarters, Americal Division, published: * GO Number 4122, on 13 July 1968, awarding him the Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) (6 October 1966 through 9 August 1968) * GO Number 4351, on 16 July 1968, awarding him the Purple Heart for wounds received in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 21 June 1968 * GO Number 4965, on 30 July 1968, awarding him the Army Commendation Medal for service (August 1867 to July 1968) f. He was honorably released from active duty on 7 August 1968. His DD Form 214 shows in: * item 3 (Social Security Number), xxx-xx-xxxx * Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) * National Defense Service Medal * Sharpshooter M-14 * Combat Infantryman Badge * Vietnam Service Medal * Vietnam Campaign Medal * 1 overseas service bar 4. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) provides that the DD Form 214 is a summary of the Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty. The information entered thereon reflects the conditions as they existed at the time of separation. BOARD DISCUSSION After review of the application and all evidence, the Board determined there is sufficient evidence to grant full relief. The applicant’s contentions were carefully considered. The Purple Heart is awarded with additional awards as annotated by the analyst of record in the administrative notes below. The applicant’s record has official documents such as the Purple Heart orders and his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record), which shows his SSN with “xxxx” instead of “xxxx.” Based upon the preponderance of evidence, the Board agreed to correct the SSN on his separation document. BOARD VOTE Member 1 Member 2 Member 3 : X :X :X Full Grant : : : Partial Grant : : : Formal Hearing Grant : : : Deny BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 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 deleting the current social security number (SSN) shown on his DD Form 214 and replacing it with the SSN shown on his DA Form 20. 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) A review of the applicant's records shows he is authorized additional awards not listed on his DD Form 214. As a result, amend the DD Form 214 ending on 7 August 1968 by adding: * Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Machine Gun Bar (M- 60), by UO Number 19, dated 24 February 1967 * Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-16), by Special Orders (SO) Number 174, dated 24 July 1967 * Army Good Conduct Medal, by General Orders (GO) 4122, dated 13 July 1968 * Purple Heart, by GO Number 4315, dated 16 July 1968 * Army Commendation Medal, by GO Number 4965, dated 30 July 1968 * Presidential Unit Citation, 2 January -12 February 1968, by DA General Orders (DAGO) Number 42, dated 1970 * Valorous Unit Award, 15 -31 October 1967, by DAGO Number 39, dated 1970 * Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, 20 July 1965 - 28 March 1973, by DAGO Number 8, dated 1974 * four bronze service star with his already-awarded Vietnam Service Medal * 2 overseas service bars vice his already-listed 1 overseas service bar REFERENCES: 1. Title 10, U.S. Code, 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) 635-5 (Separation Documents), in effect at the time, prescribed the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. It established standardized policy for preparation of the DD Form 214. The DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of active Army service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. * Item 3, transcribe Social Security account number from DA Form 2139 (Military Pay Voucher) * Item 24, enter from section 9, DA Form 20, all decorations, service medals, campaign credits, and badges awarded or authorized, omitting authorities cited therein 3. AR 635-8 (Separation Processing and Documents), currently in effect, prescribe the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service or control of the Army. It states the separation document is a synopsis of the Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty and provides a brief, clear-cut record of active Army service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. 4. AR 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Vietnam Service Medal is awarded for qualifying service in Vietnam after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973. A bronze service star will be awarded for wear on the Vietnam Service Medal for participation in each campaign. Approved campaigns during his Vietnam service (10 August 1967 - 3 August 1968): * Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase III, 1 June 1967 - 29 January 1968 * Tet Counteroffensive, 30 January - 1 April 1968 * Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase IV, 2 April - 30 June 1968 * Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase V, 1 July - 1 November 1968 5. Department of the Army (DA) Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) shows during his assignment to B Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, this unit was awarded: * Presidential Unit Citation, 2 January -12 February 1968, by DA General Orders (DAGO) Number 42, dated 1970 * Valorous Unit Award, 15 -31 October 1967, by DAGO Number 39, dated 1970 6. DAGO Number 8, dated 1974, announced award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation to Headquarters, U.S. Army Vietnam and its subordinate units during the period 20 July 1965 - 28 March 1973. 7. AR 670-1 (Uniforms and Insignia) governs the requirements for the overseas service bar. It states a bar is authorized for wear for each period of active Federal service as a member of the U.S. Army outside of the continental limits of the United States for the specific time frames and areas of operation cited in AR 670-1 or appropriate Department of the Army message. There are special provisions regarding authorization for the overseas service bar for service in a hostile fire zone and for combining service to calculate award of the bars. For Vietnam service, one overseas service bar was authorized for each period of 6 months active Federal service as a member of a U.S. Service in Vietnam from 1 July 1958 to 28 March 1973. Both the month of arrival and the month of departure from Vietnam were counted as whole months for credit toward the overseas service bar. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20170013783 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS