ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


                  IN THE CASE OF:

                  BOARD DATE:  21 October 2019

                  DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20190007956


APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United 
States Report of Transfer or Discharge) for the period ending 21 June 1968 to show:

*	he was authorized and awarded the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC)
*	his military occupational specialty (MOS) was “Door Gunner” instead of MOS 
76W (Petroleum Supply Specialist)

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD:

*	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)

FACTS: 

1.  While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute 
of limitations, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) has elected 
to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is 
granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to 
timely file.  In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of 
limitations for timely filing.

2.  The applicant states his DD Form 214 does not include his award of the PUC, which 
was given to him after his honorable service in the Vietnam War.  Former President 
Lyndon B. Johnson presented the medal in Fort Meade, MD in May 1968.  Additionally, 
his MOS during this time was as a “Door Gunner” managing an M-60.  His record is 
missing essential pieces of his service in the military, particularly, the Vietnam War.  It 
fails to portray his sacrifices over there, and the one medal that, perhaps, closed such a 
difficult chapter of his life.  He further states that he was not aware that a correction 
could be requested.

3.  The Board will not consider the applicant's request to add the PUC to his DD Form 
214; this portion of the request will be addressed through an administrative correction.

4.  A DD Form 47 (Record of Induction) shows he was inducted into the Army of the 
United States on 23 June 1966.
5.  His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows the following information:

*	item 22 (Primary MOS’) – “76W2O” Petroleum Supply Specialist
*	item 27 (Military Education) – Petroleum Storage Specialist, MOS code 56C2O 
(later recoded as shown in item 22)
*	item 31 (Foreign Service) – from 28 November 1966 through 27 November 1967 
U.S. Army Pacific – Vietnam
*	item 38 (Record of Assignments) – while in Vietnam, he was assigned to Battery 
A, 2nd Battalion, 20th Artillery, 1st Calvary Division (Air Mobile) from 7 December 
1966 to 24 November 1967 and his principal duty was as an Aircraft Fuel 
Handler (MOS 56C/76W)

6.  On 21 June 1968, he was honorably separated and transferred to the U.S. Army 
Reserve (Control Group) (Annual Training).  His DD Form 214 shows in:

*	item 22c (Foreign Service) – “Vietnam 1 0 0”
*	item 23a (Specialty Number and Title) – “PETROLEUM STOR SPEC 76W2O”

7.  A review of the applicant’s record does not show he received or was awarded the 
MOS for “Door Gunner.”

8.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) states the DD Form 214, in item 
23a, the preparer should enter the separating Soldier's primary MOS code number and 
title.  The applicant’s primary MOS at the time of separation was 76W (Petroleum 
Supply Specialist).

BOARD DISCUSSION:

Except for the items addressed in Administrative Note(s) below, the Board found 
requested relief is not warranted.  The Board agreed that, while the applicant may have 
served as a door gunner, there is no evidence he held that as his primary MOS.  The 
record clearly shows his primary MOS at the time of his separation was 76W, which was 
recorded on his DD Form 214 in accordance with the governing regulation.


BOARD VOTE:

Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

:	      :	      :	FULL GRANT

:	      :	      :	PARTIAL GRANT

:	      :	      :	FORMAL HEARING GRANT

:X	:X	:X	DENY APPLICATION
BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

Other than the items addressed in Administrative Note(s) below, the Board determined 
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 otherwise 
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 NOTES(S):  Make the following administrative corrections to item 24 
of the applicant's DD Form 214 based on the evidence in paragraph c:

	a.  delete the Vietnam Service Medal, and 

	b.  add the following awards:

*	Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars 
*	Presidential Unit Citation
*	Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation

   c.  Army Regulation 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) 
shows the following information:

   (1)  His unit was authorized the award of the PUC for the period 11 December 
1966 to 4 April 1967, Department of the Army General Order (DAGO) 2, 1973; 
therefore, this award should be added to his DD Form 214, 

   (2)  He is authorized the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit 
Citation for the period 9 August 1965 – 19 May 1969, DAGO 59, 1969, and

   (3)  He participated in two campaigns (Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase II – 
1 July 1966 – 31 May 1967 and Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase III – 1 June 1967 – 
29 January 1968) and is authorized the award of the Vietnam Service Medal with 
two bronze service stars.




REFERENCES:

1.  Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of 
military records must be filed within 3 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 3-year statute 
of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so.

2.  Army Regulation 611-201 (Enlisted Career Management Fields and Military 
Occupational Specialties), in effect at the time, provided the official title for the following 
MOSs:

*	56C – Petroleum Storage Specialist
*	76W – Petroleum Supply Specialist

3.  Army Regulation 635-5, in effect at the time, prescribed the separation documents 
prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service 
or control of the Active Army.  It provided that the DD Form 214 was a synopsis of the 
Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty.  The DD Form 214 provided a 
brief, clear-cut record of active Army service at the time of release from active duty, 
retirement, or discharge.  For item 23a (Specialty Number and Title), the preparer 
should enter the separating Soldier's primary MOS code number and title.

//NOTHING FOLLOWS//
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                                  AR20190007956	 	
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