ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:  5 September 2019

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20170014380


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  in effect correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to reflect the Medical Combat Badge.

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

* DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
* General Orders Number 1540, dated 4 December 1967
* GO Number 6960, dated 8 October 1968
* Newspaper Article, dated 15 November 1967
* DD Form 214

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 he would like to receive the Medical Combat Badge for combat service as Combat Medic in Vietnam 1967-1968, for valor sake if none other.

3.  The applicant provides:

	a.  General Orders (GO) Number 1540, issued on 4 December 1967, by Headquarters American Division (Silver Star) for gallantry in action against a hostile force on 5 October 1967, in the Republic of Vietnam.  On that date the applicant ambushed by an insurgent force, reached the dangerous position directly in front of an enemy machinegun element and for two hours treated his injured comrades as the Platoon Medic he was exposed to intense fire (see detailed GO Number 150 in packet).

	b.  GO Number 6960, issued on 8 October 1968, by Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division (Bronze Star Medal) for meritorious service from 8 September 1967 to 
7 September 1968.

	c.  Stars and Stripes article, dated 15 November 1967, which reads “Five NVA (North Vietnamese Army) Killed By Alert Troops” his name is mentioned in the feat during Operation Wheeler while assigned to 2nd Battalion, Airborne (Airborne), 327th Infantry Division they were hit by enemy fire from all sides by automatic weapons fire when they were moving through a wood line near open rice paddies.  It states Medic Joe Hines, San Francisco, grabbed his aid bag and ran through a hail of bullets to help the wounded troopers.  NVA bullets ripped the ground around the applicant and his patient.  He knew the wounded man had to be moved to a safer place before treating him.  The applicant picked up his fallen friend and carried him to safety witness stated he stopped the bleeding he saved the man’s life (see detailed attached article in packet).

4.  The applicant's military records are not available to the Board for review.  A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members’ records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973.  It is believed his records were lost or destroyed in that fire

a. He enlisted in the Regular Army 31 July 1965.  He completed military 
occupational specialty 91B (Medical Specialist).  He served in Vietnam for 2 years, 5 months and 18 days while assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion (Airmobile), 327th Airborne Infantry.

	b.  He was honorably discharged on 30 July 1969.  He completed 6 years, 4 months, and 1 day of active service, foreign service at U.S. Army Pacific Command, 2 years, 
5 months, and 18 days.  It also shows he was awarded or authorized:

* National Defense Service Medal
* Parachute Badge
* Vietnam Service Medal
* Silver Star
* Vietnam Campaign Medal with “1960” Device

5.  A review of the Awards and Decorations Computer-Assisted Retrieval System (ADCARS), an index of general orders issued during the Vietnam era between 1971 and 1972 maintained by the Military Awards Branch of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, failed to reveal additional awards for the applicant.

6.  Department of the Army General Orders (DAGO) Number 43, dated 1970, announced award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, for service in Vietnam for the period of 19 July 1968 to 14 May 1969.

7.  DAGO Number 48, dated 1971, announced award of the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, for service in Vietnam from 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970.
8.  By regulation the Combat Medical Badge (CMB) is awarded to officers, warrant officers, and enlisted Soldier of the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) assigned or attached to the medical detachment of infantry regiments, infantry battalions, and elements thereof:  

1) The CMB was designed to provide recognition to the field medic who accompanies the infantryman into battle and shares experiences unique in combat.
2) The CMB was intended to recognize medical personnel who were personally present and under fire while rendering medical care.  Recommending officials were required to document the place, time, type, and intensity of fire to which the proposed recipient was exposed while rendering medical care.
3) The CMB is authorized for Republic of Vietnam Conflict and other operations 
2 March 1961 to 28 March 1973.

BOARD DISCUSSION:

After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board determined relief was warranted.  Based upon the documentary evidence provided by the applicant which reflects the actions taken by the applicant on 5 October 1967, the Board recommended granting the Combat Medical Badge (CMB).

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 Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending the applicant’s DD Form 214 by awarding and adding the Combat Medical Badge for actions taken in Vietnam on 5 October 1967.
2.  Additionally, the Board noted that administrative notes below from the analyst of record and recommended those changes be completed to more accurately depict his military service.
	 
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 service records show he is authorized awards not annotated on his DD Form 214.  As a result, amend his DD Form 214 by deleting Vietnam Service Medal and adding the following:

* Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars
* Bronze Star Medal, General Order Number 6960, issued by Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division, dated 8 October 1968, for the period of 8 September 1967 to 7 September 1968
* Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class, Department of the Army (DAGO) 48, 1971, period covered 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970
* Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation (DAGO) 43, 1970, from 19 July 1968 to 14 May 1969

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 600-8-22 (Military Awards) originally established as the Medical Badge, the Combat Medical Badge (CMB) was created by the War Department on
March 1945.  It could be awarded to officers, warrant officers, and enlisted 
Soldier of the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) assigned or attached to the medical detachment of infantry regiments, infantry battalions, and elements thereof designated as infantry in tables of organization (TOEs).  Its evolution stemmed from a requirement to recognize medical aid-men who shared the same hazards and hardships of ground combat on a daily basis with the infantry Soldier it could be awarded retroactive to 7 December 1941 to fully qualified personnel:  

	a.  It was designed to provide recognition to the field medic who accompanies the infantryman into battle and shares experiences unique to the infantry in combat. There was never any intention to award the CMB to all medical personnel who serve in a combat zone or imminent danger area.

	b.  It was intended to recognize medical personnel who were personally present and under fire while rendering medical care. So stringent was this requirement that during the Vietnam era, recommending officials were required to document the place (in six-digit coordinates), time, type, and intensity of fire to which the proposed recipient was exposed while rendering medical care.

3.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register), 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, the Grenada Operation, and the period of service subsequent to the Vietnam Conflict up to September 1987:  

4.  Department of the Army General Orders (DAGO) 48, dated 1971, announced award of The Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, for service in Vietnam from 18 March 1968 to 2 May 1970 
and DAGO 43, dated 1970, announced award of The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, for service in Vietnam from 19 July 1968 to 14 May 1969.

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20170014380


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