ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 17 August 2020 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20190004105 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show: a. award of the – * Army Good Conduct Medal * National Defense Service Medal * Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal * Vietnam Service Medal * Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960) b. foreign service credit in Korat, Thailand, for 5 months and 1 day. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record), dated 4 March 2019 * two Self-authored letters, dated 4 March 2019 * news article, "[Applicant] Takes Part in SEATO [Southeast Asia Treaty Organization] Exercise," undated * two photographs * news article, "200 Men Hustle Supplies to 3,000, Logistics' Troops Tackle Big Job in Thailand" undated * Army Post Office locations, undated * Headquarters, 9th Logistical Command (B), Special Orders Number 54, dated 12 April 1962 * two DA Forms 1 (Morning Report) * Headquarters, 9th Logistical Command (B), Special Orders Number 143, dated 23 August 1962 * United States Army Ryukyus Islands Form 456 (Debriefing Statement on Security of Information), dated 12 September 1962 * Title 18, United States Code (USC), section 793, extract, dated 12 September 1962 * two National Personnel Records Center letters, dated 18 May 2018 and 5 September 2018 * U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Awards and Decorations Branch letter, dated 20 December 2018 * Defense Personnel Records Information Retrieval System Printout, undated * two DA Forms 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) * two DA Forms 24 (Service Record) * two DD Forms 214 * Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960), and Vietnam Service Medal Awards Criteria * DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214) * U.S. Army TACOM (Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command) Life Cycle Management Command Printout, undated FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the three-year time frame provided in Title 10, USC, section 1552(b); however, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) 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: a. His DD Form 214 should be corrected to show all of his award entitlements and the foreign service he completed in 1962. b. His DD Form 214 shows in item 24 (Foreign Service), 1 year, 9 months, and 20 days of foreign service in the United States Army Pacific Command (USARPAC), but does not mention his foreign service in Army Post Office (APO) 33 Korat, Thailand, of 5 months and 1 day. His foreign service in Thailand was not part of the USARPAC. c. On March 2017, the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) and the Defense Personnel Records Information Retrieval Center (DPRIS) informed him that no records existed of his deployment to Korat, Thailand, in 1962. d. His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he was promoted to specialist five (SP5) while assigned to the 9th Logistics Command (B) in APO 33 and shows his assignments to APO 331. The 1st Main Operating Base (MOB) list of APO's and their locations during the Vietnam War confirms that APO 33 was Korat, Thailand, and APO 331 was Sukiran, Okinawa. His conduct and efficiency ratings were excellent. e. His DA Form 1 (Morning Report), dated 30 June 1962, shows on line 6, that he was located in Korat, Thailand, and he took seven days of leave to Bangkok, Thailand. f. His DA Form 1, dated 12 September 1962, shows on line 10, that he departed APO 33 and he returned to APO 331. g. His United States Army Ryukyu Island (USARYIS) Form 456 (Debriefing Statement), dated 12 September 1962, which shows he was preparing to leave APO 33 in Korat, Thailand, to return to APO 331 in Sukiran, Okinawa. h. On 18 May 2018, a letter from the NPRC, shows he is authorized the National Defense Service Medal, Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (Carbine), and the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-1). His DD Form 214 only shows in item 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) his basic marksmanship qualification badges. i. He believes he is entitled to the Army Good Conduct Medal and based on his service in Okinawa and Thailand during the period 1961 to 1962, he should also be entitled to one or more of the following awards: * Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal * Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960) * Vietnam Service Medal j. He did not have boots on the ground in Vietnam, but request a review of his records of the Air Cobra Exercise, the Joint Task Force (JTF) 116 project, Cambodia- Laos tensions in 1961 and 1962, and the U.S. Army personnel assigned to Korat, Thailand in 1962. k. A DA Form 305-3 (Army Personnel Roster) for the 5th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control), dated 31 July 1962, shows on page 3, line 17, his full name, service number and military occupational specialty. l. He was assigned to the 9th Logistics Command for the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) for the Air Cobra Exercise and during the period 22 April 1962 to 27 April 1962 for the "Sham" Exercise maneuvers. After completion of the "Sham" Exercise, the 9th Logistics Command continued to provide logistical support to the 25th Infantry Division. m. He desires the records of his fellow Soldier, S____, reviewed to verify his request. His intent is not to discredit any person, any group, any office or Department of Armed Forces. His hope and desire is to obtain any awards that he was due and did not receive and to get his DD Form 214 corrected to show his family he served in Thailand as he has been telling them for the past 55 years. 3. Sufficient evidence is contained in the applicant's records for an administrative correction of his DD Form 214 without Board action. His DD Form 214 will be administratively corrected to show award of the National Defense Service Medal. 4. The Board will consider the applicant's request for: a. award of the – * Army Good Conduct Medal * Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal * Vietnam Service Medal * Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960) b. his foreign service credit in Korat, Thailand, for 5 months and 1 day. 5. On 31 May 1960, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army. 6. The applicant provided copies of: a. a news article, "[Applicant] Takes Part in SEATO Exercise," that shows, in part: (1) He participated with other personnel from the 9th Logistical Command in Exercise Air Cobra (SEATO) training maneuvers in Thailand. His unit joined with air and ground forces of Australia, the United Kingdom, Thailand, and France in the exercise. He was a Transportation Movement Specialist in the command's 5th Transportation Battalion, which is regularly located on Okinawa. (2) He also attached a photograph of himself that indicates "Okinawa '61," "Thailand '62"; and a handwritten entry indicating "5th Transportation Battalion, 9th Logistics Command." b. a newspaper article, "200 Men Hustle Supplies to 3,000 – Logistics' Troops Tackle Big Job in Thailand," that shows, in part: (1) While in Korat, Thailand nearly 3,000 American fighting men are being fed, supplied and kept in fighting by about 200 men of the Army's 9th Logistics Command from Okinawa. An estimated 1,100 troops of the 1st Battle Group, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division the famed Wolfhounds of Hawaii arrived in Thailand in mid-April to act as ground troops in the SEATO Exercise Air Cobra. (2) Men of the 9th Logistics Command preceded the units there for the maneuver and remained to give logistics support for the Wolfhounds when the battle group shifted gears from the sham SEATO operation, to mobilization nearby, in case the tense border-line situation between Laos and Thailand worsened. c. photographs of unit patches for: * Fort Leonard Wood, MO May 1960 * Fort Eustis, VA December 1960 * Ryukyu Islands Naha, Okinawa 1961 * Korat, Thailand 1962 * Fort Ord, CA May 1963 d. Headquarters, 9th Logistical Command, Special Orders Number 54, dated 12 April 1962, that show both he and Specialist Four (SP4) S____ were assigned to the 5th Transportation Battalion at the same time. e. a Defense Personnel Records Information Retrieval System Printout, undated, which shows, in part: (1) The 1943 to 1986 history submitted by the 5th Transportation Battalion and the 1960 to 1962 history submitted by the 9th Logistical Command were reviewed. The histories confirmed that on 10 May 1960, the 5th Transportation Battalion was activated in Okinawa, Japan, and placed under the 9th Logistics Command; (2) The 9th Logistical Command deployed to Thailand in May 1962. The 9th Logistical Command history documented more units of the 9th Logistical Command were sent to Thailand early in 1962 to support SEATO exercise Air Cobra. However, the histories did not specifically document personnel assigned to the 5th Transportation Battalion during the deployment. (3) The histories did not specifically document the applicant or personnel assigned to the 5th Transportation Battalion were deployed to Thailand or transported chemicals or herbicides. An Air Force Historical Research Agency memorandum concluded no documentation or evidence had been found in the holdings of the Historical Research Agency showing that tactical herbicides, such as Agent Orange, were ever used on any U.S. Air Force installations in Thailand for vegetation control during the Vietnam era. f. a 1st MOB APO locations list which shows, in part, APO 96331, 331 was assigned to Sukiran, Okinawa, and APO 96233, 33 was assigned to Korat, Thailand. g. his DA Forms 1, dated 30 June 1962 and 12 September 1962, that shows his reporting unit as 5th Transportation Battalion, and his home unit as Headquarters, 9th Logistics Command with location in Korat, Thailand. h. his USARYIS Form 456 (Debriefing Statement), dated 12 September 1962, which shows his unit of assignment as 5th Battalion, 9th Logistics Command, and his acknowledgement of change of status from military or civilian assignment and obligations for the security of classified information, and other matters requiring protection in the public interest. i. SP4 S____'s DA Form 20, page 1, that shows in item 29 (Foreign Service), this Soldier's service in Okinawa for the period 1 January 1961 to 22 September 1962. j. his DA Form 20 that shows in item 29, his service in Okinawa from 1 January 1961 to 20 October 1962. 7. The applicant's DA Form 20 shows he served in Okinawa from 1 January 1961 to 20 October 1962 and in item 33 (Record of Assignments), in part, his assignments were as follows: * 5th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control), APO 331, for the period 3 January 1961 to 23 May 1962 * 5th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control), APO 33, for the period 24 May 1962 to on or about 5 December 1962 8. His DA Form 24 shows in section 4 (Chronological Record of Military Service): a. his assignments, in part, were as follows: * Enroute to USARYIS for the period 23 December 1960 to 2 January 1961 * 5th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control), APO 331, for the period 3 January 1961 to 11 April 1962 * Temporary Change of Station, 5th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control), APO 33, for the period 12 April 1962 to 13 September 1962 * Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 9th Logistical Rear, APO 331, for the period 14 September 1962 to 18 October 1962 * Enroute to the Continental U.S. on 19 October 1962 b. he received "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings with the exception of the period 14 September 1962 to 18 October 1962 wherein he received "unknown" ratings. 9. The applicant provided a copy of SP4 S____'s DD Form 214 which shows in: a. item 24c (Foreign Service) – Okinawa, 1 year, 8 months, and 1 day; b. item 26 (Decorations, Medal, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Numbers awarded or authorized) – * Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-1) * Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Carbine Bar 10. On 29 May 1963, the applicant was honorably released from active duty. His DD Form 214 shows he completed 2 years, 11 months and 29 days of net service and in: a. item 24c (Foreign) – USARPAC, 1 year, 9 months and 20 days; b. item 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) – * Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-1) * Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Carbine Bar 11. The applicant provided copies of: a. SP4 S____'s DD Form 215, dated 20 December 2018, that shows his DD Form 214 was corrected to show his award of the National Defense Service Medal and Army Good Conduct Medal and b. criteria for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960), and the Vietnam Service Medal. 12. 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 Awards and Decorations Branch of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, failed to reveal any orders for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960), or the Vietnam Service Medal pertaining to the applicant. 13. His records are void of any disciplinary actions or a commander's disqualification for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) for the period 31 May 1960 through 29 May 1963. 14. There were no provisions for specifically entering service in Thailand on the DD Form 214 during the applicant's period of active duty service. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting evidence, in addition to the corrections noted in the Administrative Notes below the signature block, the Board found that partial relief was warranted. 1. The Board found sufficient evidence to approve the recommended corrections found by the Analyst of Record in Administrative Notes (below the Signature Block). 2. The Board found sufficient evidence to grant award of the Army Good Conduct Medal. The evidence of record confirms he served honorably during the period 31 May 1960 through 29 May 1963. His record does not contain any information that would have precluded him from being recommended for or awarded the AGCM (1st Award), and he was honorably released from active duty. 3. Regarding the applicant’s request for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960) (RVCMD (1960)), and the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), the Board found insufficient evidence to grant relief. a. Per regulation, the applicant’s period of service in Vietnam or USARPAC countries, for five months from April to September 1962, does not qualify him for any of these awards. The Operation he participated in in Thailand and Okinawa was not listed as an operation that was awarded or authorized the AFEM. b. Per regulation, the RVCMD (1960) was awarded for Vietnam/USARPAC service from 1965 to 1973. The applicant served in 1962 and is therefore not eligible for award of this medal. c. Per regulation, award of the VSM is authorized for six months or more in designated countries. The applicant only served five months and is therefore ineligible for the award. 4. Regarding the applicant’s request to add foreign service in Korat, Thailand, for 5 months and 1 day, the Board found insufficient evidence of error in the applicant’s record. The applicant’s foreign service of 1 year, 9 months, and 20 days is reflected in block 24c of his DD Form 214, dated 29 May 1963. Per the regulation in effect when the applicant was discharged in 1963, there were no provisions for specifically entering service in Thailand on the DD Form 214 during the applicant's period of active duty service. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF :XX :XX :XX GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: In addition to the Administrative Notes found by the analyst of record below the signature block, the Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief. 1. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding the applicant the AGCM, and b. correcting his DD Form 214 with effective date 29 May 1963 by adding the AGCM to item 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized). 2. The Board further determined the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief. As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to: * Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, * Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960), * Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), or * foreign service in Korat, Thailand, for 5 months and 1 day. 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): The applicant served a qualifying period of service for award of the National Defense Service Medal which is not listed on his DD Form 214. 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 National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service for any period between (dates inclusive): (1) 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954 (Korea). (2) 1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974 (Vietnam). (3) 2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995 (Persian Gulf). (4) 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined (Global War on Terrorism). b. During the periods listed for Korea and Vietnam, service members in the following categories will not be eligible for the National Defense Service Medal: (1) Members of the Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve on short tours of duty to fulfill training obligations under an inactive duty training program. (2) Any service member on temporary duty or temporary active duty to serve on boards, courts, commissions, and like organizations. (3) Any service member on active duty for the sole purpose of undergoing a physical examination. c. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is awarded to service members of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after 1 July 1958: (1) Participate, or have participated, as members of the U.S. military units in a U.S. military operation in which service members of any military department participate, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in significant numbers. (2) Encounter during such participation foreign-armed opposition, or are otherwise placed, or have been placed, in such position that, in the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, hostile action by foreign armed forces were imminent even though it did not materialize. d. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal may be authorized for the following three categories of operations: (1) U.S. military operations, (2) U.S. operations in direct support of the United Nations, and (3) U.S. operations of assistance for friendly foreign nations. e. Service members must be bona fide members of a unit participating in or be engaged in the direct support of the operation for 30 consecutive days in the area of operations (or for the full period when an operation is less than 30 days duration) or for 60 nonconsecutive days provided this support involved entering the area of operations or and meets one or more of the following criteria: (1) Be engaged in actual combat, or duty, which is equally as hazardous as combat duty, during the operation with armed opposition, regardless of time in the area. (2) Is wounded or injured and requires medical evacuation from the AOE while participating in the operation, regardless of time. (3) Accumulates required days service (consecutive or nonconsecutive) while participating as a regularly assigned air crewmember of an aircraft flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the area in direct support of the military operation. One day’s service is credited for the first sortie flown on any day. Additional sorties flown on the same day receive no further credit. f. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal will be awarded only for operations for which no other U.S. campaign medal is approved. g. Table 2-5 (Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal – Designated U.S. Military Operations of Assistance to a Friendly Foreign National) shows the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was authorized for Thailand during the period 29 March 1973 to 15 August 1973 and only for those service members in direct support of Cambodia operations. h. The Vietnam Service Medal is awarded to all service members of the Armed Forces of the United States serving in Vietnam and its contiguous waters or airspace there over, after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973. Service members of the Armed Forces of the United States in Thai-land, Laos, or Cambodia, or the airspace there over, during the same period and serving in direct support of operations in Vietnam are also eligible for this award. To qualify for award of the Vietnam Service Medal an individual must meet one of the following qualifications: (1) Be attached to or regularly serve for 1 or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations. (2) Be attached to or regularly serve for 1 or more days aboard a U.S. naval vessel directly supporting military operations. (3) Participate as a crewmember in one or more aerial flights into airspace above Vietnam and contiguous waters directly supporting military operations. (4) Serve on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days in Vietnam or contiguous areas, except that time limit may be waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations. i. The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960) was awarded by the Government of Vietnam to all to service members of the U.S. Armed Forces. To qualify for award personnel must meet one of the following requirements: (1) Have served in the Republic of Vietnam for 6 months during the period 1 March 1961 to 28 March 1973. (2) Have served outside the geographical limits of the Republic of Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam and Armed Forces for 6 months. Individuals must meet the criteria established for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam) or the Vietnam Service Medal, during the period of service required to qualify for the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. (3) Have served for less than 6 months during the period 1 March 1961 to 28 March 1973 and have been one of the following: (a) Wounded by hostile forces. (b) Captured by hostile forces, but later escaped, was rescued, or released. (c) Killed in action or otherwise in line of duty. (4) Personnel assigned in the Republic of Vietnam on 28 January 1973 must meet one of the following: (a) Served a minimum of 60 days in the Republic of Vietnam as of that date. (b) Completed a minimum of 60 days service in the Republic of Vietnam during the period from 28 January 1973 to 28 March 1973, inclusive. 3. Army Regulation 672-5-1 (Awards), in effect at the time, stated the Army Good Conduct Medal was awarded for each 3 years of continuous enlisted active Federal military service completed on or after 27 August 1940; for first award only, 1 year served entirely during the period 7 December 1941 to 2 March 1946; and, for the first award only, upon termination of service on or after 27 June 1950 of less than 3 years but more than 1 year. The enlisted person must have had all "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings. Ratings of "Unknown" for portions of the period under consideration were not disqualifying. Service school efficiency ratings based upon academic proficiency of at least "Good" rendered subsequent to 22 November 1955 were not disqualifying. There must have been no convictions by a court-martial. However, there was no right or entitlement to the medal until the immediate commander made a positive recommendation for its award and until the awarding authority announced the award in general orders. 4. Army Regulation 635-5 (Administrative Separation Procedures and Forms), in effect at the time, prescribed the separation documents that must be prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active duty service or control of the Active Army. It established standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214. Instructions stated to enter in: a. item 24c, the total active duty outside continental limits of the United States for the period covered by the DD Form 214; and b. item 26, decorations, etc., awarded or authorized during the period covered by the DD Form 214 being prepared from item 21, DA Form 66 or section 9, DA Form 24, omitting authorities cited therein. c. Later versions of the regulation directed the entry, "SERVICE IN (name of country deployed) FROM (inclusive dates for example, YYYYMMDD-YYYYMMDD)" in the remarks block of the DD Form 214. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20190004105 11 1