ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:

	BOARD DATE:  9 May 2019

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20190003996


APPLICANT REQUESTS: 

* Correction of General Orders Number 2710, dated 24 September 1972, to show the 8th digit of his social security number as "" instead of ""
* Correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation From Active Duty) for the period ending 26 April 1974 to show the Air Medal and "Crew Chief Wings" (i.e., the Aircraft Crewmember Badge)

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

* DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
* DD Form 214
* General Orders Number 2710
* Air Medal certificate/citation 

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 military records were lost from 22 September 1971 to 21 September 1972 so he was discharged on temporary records
* His DD Form 214 listed him only as an aircraft mechanic not a helicopter crew chief
* His first assignment was with the 158th Aviation Company, 101st Airborne Division in Camp Evans and he worked in the Maintenance Hanger
* His second assignment was with the 398th Transportation, 11th Cavalry in Phu Loi and he worked in the Hydraulic Shop
* His third assignment was with the Aviation Company in Can Tho, 1st Aviation Brigade and he was a Crew Chief of a Huey Helicopter
* His SSN is incorrect on his Air Medal orders
* His DD Form 214 does not list his Air Medal or "Crew Chief Wings"

3.  The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 16 March 1971.  

4.  Review of his military personnel records contain the following documents that show his SSN as XXX-XX-XXX:

* DD Form 4 (Enlistment Contract - Armed Forces of the United States)
* DD Form 398 (Statement of Personal History)
* DA Form 873 (Certificate of Clearance and/or Security Determination)
* DA Form 137 (Installation Clearance Record)
* Special Orders Number 82
* DD Form 214

5.  His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows in:

* item 1 (Name and Service Number) - his SSN is listed as XXX-XX- XXX
* item 22 (Military Occupational Specialties) - he was awarded primary MOS 67N2O (UH-1 Helicopter Repairman)
* item 31 (Foreign Service) - he served in Vietnam from 21 September 1971 to 20 September 1972
* item 38 (Record of Assignments) - he performed duties as a Helicopter Repairman in duty MOS 67N2O while assigned to Company B, 158th Aviation Battalion; 398th Transportation Detachment, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry; and 18th Combat Aviation in Vietnam
* item 41 (Awards and Decorations) - no entry for award of the Air Medal

6.  His military personnel records do not include orders which show he was awarded the basic Air Medal or flight records, nor do they include orders for the Aircraft Crewmember Badge.

7.  He provided General Orders Number 2710, dated 24 September 1972 that awarded him the Air Medal (2nd through 8th Award) for the period 16 April 1972 to 18 August 1972.  

8.  His general orders, Air Medal certificate, and Air Medal citation all show his SSN as XXX-XX-XXX.

9.  His Air Medal (2nd through 8th Award) citation reads: "who distinguished himself by meritorious achievement, while participating in sustained aerial flight in support of combat ground forces in the Republic of Vietnam.  During the period 16 April 1972 to 18 August 1972 he actively participated in more than twenty-five aerial missions over hostile territory in support of operations against communist aggression…"
10.  On 26 April 1974, he was honorably released from active duty.  His DD Form 214 does not show the Air Medal or the Aircraft Crewmember Badge.  

11.  A review of the Awards and Decorations Computer-Assisted Retrieval System (ADCARS), an index of general orders issued during the Vietnam era between 1965 and 1973 maintained by the U.S. Army Human Resources Command Military Awards Branch, failed to reveal any orders awarding the applicant the basic Air Medal.  

12.  U.S. Army Vietnam (USARV) Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) provided guidelines for award of the Air Medal.  It stated passenger personnel who did not participate in an air assault were not eligible for the award based upon sustained operations.  It defined terms and provided guidelines for the award based upon the number and types of missions or hours.  Twenty-five Category I missions (air assault and equally dangerous missions) and accrual of a minimum of 25 hours of flight time while engaged in Category I missions was the standard established for which sustained operations were deemed worthy of recognition by an award of the Air Medal.  However, the regulation was clear that these guidelines were considered only a departure point.  

13.  Army Regulation 672-5-1 (Military Awards), in effect at the time, provided for temporary and permanent award of the Aircraft Crew Member Badge.  Commanders of any unit with Army aircraft assigned could publish orders allowing qualified members of that command to wear the Aircraft Crew Member Badge.  To be eligible for temporary award of the Aircraft Crew Member Badge an individual had to be on flying status in the case of crew chiefs, electronic sensor system operators, and flight engineers or as a non-crewmember in the case of observers, medical aidmen, gunners, aircraft maintenance supervisors, or technical inspectors.  Individuals were also required to be qualified based on a Class III physical examination and to hold a principal duty assignment as a crew chief, flight engineer, aircraft maintenance supervisor, observer, gunner, or technical inspector.  These personnel were authorized to wear the badge temporarily until relieved from those duties or they could be authorized permanent wear of the Aircraft Crew Member Badge once they fulfilled the regulatory requirements for permanent award of the badge.  

BOARD DISCUSSION:

After reviewing the application and all supporting evidence, the Board determined that in addition to the administrative corrections outlined below the signature, full relief was warranted.  The Board found sufficient evidence to grant the following:

1.  award of the:

* Air Medal, and
* Crewmember badge


2.  correction of the applicant’s citations, awards orders, and certificates for the Air Medal and Army Commendation Medal to reflect the correct social security number (SSN) as listed on the applicant’s DD Form 214, which is the applicant’s correct SSN.



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:

In addition to the administrative notes below the signature block, 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:

1.  amending his DD Form 214 by awarding him

* Air Medal, and
* Crewmember badge

2.  amending his awards citations, orders, and certificates for the Air Medal (1972) and the Army Commendation Medal (1972) to reflect the SSN shown on DD Form 214 as follows:

* “xxx-xx-xxxx” vice “xxx-xx-xxxx”


	 
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 by adding the:

* Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation - DAGO Number 8, dated 1974
* Army Commendation Medal - GO Number 3022, dated 16 October 1972


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 (USARV) Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) provided guidelines for award of the Air Medal.  It stated passenger personnel who did not participate in an air assault were not eligible for the award based upon sustained operations.  It defined terms and provided guidelines for the award based upon the number and types of missions or hours.  Twenty-five Category I missions (air assault and equally dangerous missions) and accrual of a minimum of 25 hours of flight time while engaged in Category I missions was the standard established for which sustained operations were deemed worthy of recognition by an award of the Air Medal.  However, the regulation was clear that these guidelines were considered only a departure point.  

3.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states Arabic numerals are now used instead of oak leaf clusters for the second and succeeding awards of the Air Medal.  The numeral 2 denotes the second award of the Air Medal.

3.  Army Regulation 672-5-1 (Military Awards), in effect at the time, provided for temporary and permanent award of the Aircraft Crew Member Badge.  Commanders of any unit with Army aircraft assigned could publish orders allowing qualified members of that command to wear the Aircraft Crew Member Badge.  To be eligible for temporary award of the Aircraft Crew Member Badge an individual had to be on flying status in the case of crew chiefs, electronic sensor system operators, and flight engineers or as a non-crewmember in the case of observers, medical aidmen, gunners, aircraft maintenance supervisors, or technical inspectors.  Individuals were also required to be qualified based on a Class III physical examination and to hold a principal duty assignment as a crew chief, flight engineer, aircraft maintenance supervisor, observer, gunner, or technical inspector.  These personnel were authorized to wear the badge temporarily until relieved from those duties or they could be authorized permanent wear of the Aircraft Crew Member Badge once they fulfilled the regulatory requirements for permanent award of the badge.  

Basic Aviation Badge – Permanent Award. (a) Individual must be on flying status as a crewmember in accordance with AR 600-106 or be granted a waiver by HQDA, be on flying status, have performed in-flight duties for not less than 48 flight hours (whichever comes first), or be school trained; (b) An officer on flying status as an aerial observer. U.S. Army personnel assigned to a Joint Service Airborne Command Post and serving as members of an operational team on flying status manning the Airborne Command Post. Concurrent with such assignment, personnel are authorized temporary wear of the Basic Aviation Badge until relieved from such duties or until he or she fulfills the mandatory requirements for permanent award; (c) Individual who has been incapacitated for further flight duty by reason of being wounded as a result of enemy action, or injured as the result of an aircraft accident for which he or she was not personally responsible, or has participated in at least 15 combat missions under probable exposure to enemy fire while performing in-flight duties; (d) Soldiers upon successful completion of formal advanced individual training (AIT) in career management field (CMF) 67 and 93 MOS’, MOS 71P, and to soldiers who previously completed AIT in CMF 28 MOS’, including soldiers who graduated from AIT for MOS’ in the 68 series.

//NOTHING FOLLOWS//


ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20190003996
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