ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 5 November 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20190000171 APPLICANT REQUESTS: reconsideration of his earlier request for award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * Self-authored letter, dated 3 December 2018 * DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) * Department of the Army Pamphlet 673-2 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register), page 93 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 Number AR20170000189 on 29 August 2018. 2. The applicant provided new evidence not previously considered that warrants consideration by the Board at this time. 3. The applicant states: a. He served with the 934th Medical Detachment for the period 3 January 1967 to 31 October 1969. b. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3, page 93, shows the Meritorious Unit Commendation was awarded to the 934th Medical Detachment for the period of 1 January 1967 to 30 November 1968. c. He served in the organization at the time the award was earned. 4. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 3 January 1967. 5. He served in Vietnam during the period 31 October 1968 to on or about 29 October 1969 and he participated in four campaigns. 6. Item 38 (Record of Assignments) of his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows that while in Vietnam, he was assigned to: * 56th Medical Detachment from 5 November 1968 to 9 December 1968 * 934th Medical Detachment from 14 December 1968 until 29 October 1969 7. He provided a copy of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3, page 93, which shows the Meritorious Unit Commendation was awarded to the 934th Medical Detachment for the period of 1 January 1967 to 30 November 1968, a period prior to his assignment to the unit. 8. On 31 October 1969, he was honorably released from active duty. His DD Form 214 shows he completed 2 years of net service and he had 1 year of foreign and/or sea service. He was awarded or authorized the: * National Defense Service Medal * Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-14) * Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960) * Vietnam Service Medal * Army Good Conduct Medal * two overseas service bars 9. On 24 June 1984, he was issued a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214) to show his award of the: * Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars * Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960) * Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar * Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation 10. On 29 August 2018 in ABCMR Docket Number AR20170000189, the ABCMR, in part, denied his request for award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation. BOARD DISCUSSION: The applicant's record shows he was assigned to the 934th Medical Detachment after the period for which the unit received the Meritorious Unit Commendation. The Board agreed that because he did not participate in the action for which the unit received the award, the applicant is not authorized the Meritorious Unit Commendation. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING :XXX :XXX :XXX 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. 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 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) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. a. The Meritorious Unit Commendation is awarded to units for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services for at least 6 continuous months during the period of military operations against an armed enemy occurring on or after 1 January 1944. Service in a combat zone is not required, but must be directly related to the combat effort. Units based in Continental United States are excluded from this award, as are other units outside the area of operation. The unit must display such outstanding devotion and superior performance of exceptionally difficult tasks as to set it apart and above other units with similar missions. The degree of achievement required is the same as that which would warrant award of the Legion of Merit to an individual. Recommendations for units larger than a brigade will not be submitted. b. Effective 1 March 1961, the Meritorious Unit Commendation was authorized for units and/or detachments of the Armed Forces of the United States for exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding services for at least 6 continuous months in support of military operations. Service(s), as used in this paragraph, is interpreted to relate to combat service support type activities and not to the type of activities performed by senior headquarters, combat, or combat support units. 3. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 lists the awards received by units serving in Vietnam. This pamphlet shows the 934th Medical Detachment was cited for award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation for the period 1 January 1967 through 30 November 1968 in Department of the Army General Orders Number 56, dated 1969. 4. Department of the Army Pamphlet 670-1 (Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia) states a unit award is given to an operating unit and is worn by members of that unit who participated in the cited action. Personnel who did not participate in the cited action, but who are assigned in the cited unit, are authorized temporary wear of some unit awards. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20190006557 4 1