ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:

	BOARD DATE:  26 July 2019

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20190006023


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM).

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

*	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record), dated 8 April 2019.
*	DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or 
Discharge)

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 (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 stated he was given a citation for award of the BSM before leaving 
Vietnam but he lost the evidence.

3.  The applicant's records contain sufficient evidence to support additional awards not 
shown on his DD Form 214.  His DD Form 214 will be administratively corrected to 
show award of the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars and the 
Meritorious Unit Commendation.

4.  He enlisted in the regular Army on 4 March 1970 and served in the Republic of 
Vietnam from 3 January 1972 to 23 November 1972 and he participated in two 
campaigns while assigned to the 67th Evacuation Hospital.

5.  His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows in item 41 (Awards and 
Decorations) – he was awarded or authorized the:

*	National Defense Service Medal 
*	Vietnam Service Medal 
*	Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960)

6.  On 23 November 1972, he was honorably released from active duty.  His 
DD Form 214 shows in item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, 
Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) – he was awarded or 
authorized the:

*	National Defense Service Medal
*	Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960)
*	Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-16)
*	Vietnam Service Medal
*	one overseas bar

7.  His records are void of orders awarding him the BSM.

8.  A review of the Awards and Decorations Computer-Assisted Retrieval System, 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 for award of the BSM pertaining to the applicant.

BOARD DISCUSSION:

1.  The Board carefully considered the applicants’ request, supporting documents and 
evidence in the records.  The Board considered the applicant’s statement regarding the 
Bronze Star citation, his service in Vietnam, and the absence of orders in the Awards 
and Decorations Computer-Assisted Retrieval System.  The Board determined that 
there was insufficient evidence to grant the applicant award of the Bronze Star Medal.  
The Board concurred with the corrections stated in the Administrative Note(s) below.  

2.  After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that 
relief was not warranted.

BOARD VOTE:

Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

:	:	:	GRANT FULL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT FORMAL HEARING

:X	:X	:X	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.

ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE(S):

A review of the applicant's records show he was awarded or authorized the following 
awards not listed on his DD Form 214:

*	Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars
*	Meritorious Unit Commendation



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.  The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity 
in or with the Armed Forces of the United States or a friendly foreign nation after 
6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement 
or service not involving participation in aerial flight in connection with military operations 
against an armed enemy or while engaged in military operations involving conflict with 
an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.  As with 
all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of 
command, and announcement in orders are required.

3.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation 
Credit Register (January 1960 – February 1986)) shows the 67th Evacuation Hospital 
was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for the period 1 June 1972 to 
28 March 1973 by Department of the Army General Orders Number 6, dated 1974.


ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20190006023

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