ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 






IN THE CASE OF:  BOARD DATE:  9 December 2020 DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20190014997 


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  all the awards and decorations to which he is entitled for his service in Korea and Vietnam, to include award of the:   

.Korea Defense Service Medal

.United Nations Medal

.Cold War Service Medal



APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

.DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record), dated 7 October2019

.Certificate of Training, Emergency Medical Care, dated 23 May 1964

.Special Orders Number 218, published by Headquarters, 4th United States ArmyMissile Command (Air Transportable), dated 14 September 1964

.DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer ofDischarge), for the period ending 8 June 1966



FACTS: 

1.The applicant did not file within the three-year period provided in Title 10, UnitedStates Code, section 1552(b); however, the Army Board for Correction of MilitaryRecords (ABCMR) conducted a substantive review of this case and determined it is inthe interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file.

2.The Cold War Service does exist, but it is not authorized for all and not even officialfor most of the military, excepting some States who authorize a Cold War Medal tomembers of their State National Guard.  The Cold War Service Medal serves as theunofficial medal for Cold War veterans, but cannot be worn on a military uniform, nor isthere a provision for the Army to authorize this award or add it to a DD Form 214.

a.There have been bills introduced in several separated Congresses to authorize aCold War Service Medal, but none of the bills have made it through the entire process.  However, Cold War Veterans may apply for a Cold War Recondition Certificate, through the Cold War Recognition Certificate Program.   
(1)In accordance with section 1084 of the Fiscal Year 1998 National DefenseAuthorization Act, the Secretary of Defense approved awarding the Cold War Recognition Certificate (CWRC) to all members of the armed forces and qualified federal government civilian personnel who faithfully and honorably served the United States anytime during the Cold War era, which is defined as September. 2, 1945, to  
December. 26, 1991, are eligible. 

(2)The ABCMR is not the proper approval authority for the Cold WarRecognition Certificate; the Army Human Resources Command currently manages this program.  The instructions for completing and forwarding requests are located on the Army Human Resources Command website at the following address: (https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Cold%20War%20Recognition%20Certificate%20Program%20Overview). 

b.The Board will not consider the applicant's request for the Cold War ServiceMedal nor will this portion of his request be addressed further in this record of proceedings.   

3.The Board will not consider the applicant's request for the Korea Defense ServiceMedal, Vietnam era awards, marksmanship badges, or awards specifically authorizedby regulation but not annotated on his DD Form 214.  There is sufficient evidence ofrecord and regulatory authority to address these items through administrativecorrection.  The Board will consider the applicant's request for the United NationsMedal.

3.The applicant states, in effect, he would like his DD Form 214 corrected to add allthe awards to which he is entitled based on his service in Korea and in Vietnam.

a.He was assigned to 4th Missile Command, Camp Page, Korea and MilitaryAssistance Command Vietnam, 39th Signal Battalion, 232nd Signal Company. 

b.When he was discharge in Oakland, CA they did not receive any awards ormedals; they were simply mustered out of the service. 

4.The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 26 March 1963.

5.His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows in item 31 (Foreign Service)and item 38 (Record of Assignments):

a.he served in Korea from 30 September 1963 to 14 October 1964,

b.he served in Vietnam from 7 June 1965 to 6 June 1966 and was assigned to the232rd Signal Company (Support) from 9 June 1965 to 28 May 1966. 


6.Neither his DA Form 20 nor any other record in his military record show he wasassigned, attached, or detailed to a position in the service of the United Nations for aperiod of at least 6 months with, the below listed organizations, groups, or missions thatwould qualify for award of the United Nations Medal:

.the United Nations Observation Group in Lebanon

.the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine

.the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan

.the United Nations Security Forces, Hollandia

.the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia

.the United Nations Advance Mission in Cambodia

.the United Nations Protection Force in Yugoslavia

.the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara

.the United Nations Iraq/Kuwait Observation Group

.the United Nations Operation in Somalia (to include U.S. Quick Reaction ForceMembers



7.On 8 June 1966, he was honorably released from active duty.  His DD Form 214shows reflects the following awards:

.Vietnam Service Medal

.Army Good Conduct Medal

.two overseas service bars

.Meritorious Unit Emblem



8.A review of the Awards and Decorations Computers-Assisted Retrieval System, anindex of general orders issued during the Vietnam era between 1965 and 1973maintained by the Military Awards Branch of the United States Army Human ResourceCommand, failed to reveal orders for award of the United Nations Medal pertaining tothe applicant.



BOARD DISCUSSION: 






After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that relief was not warranted.  The Board carefully considered the applicants request, supporting documents and evidence in the records.  The Board considered the applicant’s statement, his military record, documents provided by the applicant and regulatory guidance.  The Board determined his record is absent evidence that shows he was assigned, attached, or detailed to a position in the service of the United Nations for a period of at least 6 months.  Based on the preponderance of evidence, the Board determined there is insufficient evidence to grant the applicant’s request for the United Nations Medal. Prior to closing the case, the Board did note the administrative notes below, and recommended those corrections be completed to more accurately depict the militaryservice of the applicant. BOARD VOTE: 

Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 

: : : GRANT FULL RELIEF 

: : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

: : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING 

XXX XX XXX DENY APPLICATION 

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 

Except for the correction addressed in Administrative Note(s) below, the Board found 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. 

X CHAIRPERSON

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 annotated on his DD Form 214 for the period ending 8 June 1966.  As a result, amend his DD Form 214 by” 

a.deleting the Vietnam Service Medal and

b.adding the following awards:

.National Defense Service Medal

.Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service star

.Korea Defense Service Medal

.Meritorious Unit Commendation (2nd Award), General Orders Number 3,dated 1966; General Orders Number 17, dated 1968

.Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960)

.Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, General OrdersNumber 8, dated 19 March 1974

.Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-1)

.Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-14)



REFERENCES: 

1.Title 10, United States Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications forcorrection of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the allegederror or injustice.  This provision of law also allows the ABCMR to excuse an applicant'sfailure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the Army Board forCorrection of Military Records (ABCMR) determines it would be in the interest of justiceto do so.

2.Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides Army policy, criteria, andadministrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards.

a.The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service forany period between 27 July 1950 and 27 July 1954, 1 January 1961 and 14 August 1974, 2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995, and 11 September 2001 and a date to be determined.  Second and subsequent awards of the National Defense Service Medal are denoted by a bronze service star affixed to the National Defense Service Medal.  

b.The Korea Defense Service Medal is authorized for award to service members ofthe Armed Forces of the United States who served on active duty in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea.  The area of eligibility encompasses all land area of the Republic of Korea, and the contiguous water out to 12 nautical miles, and all airspaces above the land and water areas.  The period of eligibility is 28 July 1954 to a 
date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense.  Service members must have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive or for 60 nonconsecutive days.  
 
 c.  The United Nations Medal is awarded in the name of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to personnel in the service of the United Nations for a period of not less than six months with the United Nations Observation Group in Lebanon; the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine; the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan; the United Nations Security Forces, Hollandia; the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia; the United Nations Advance Mission in Cambodia; the United Nations Protection Force in Yugoslavia; the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara; the United Nations Iraq/Kuwait Observation Group; and the United Nations Operation in Somalia (to include U.S. Quick Reaction Force Members)).  The United Nations Medal is awarded by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and is categorized as a non-U.S. service medal.  The certificate issued by the United Nations constitutes award of the United Nations Medal.  Participation in the operation does not automatically qualify the individual for the United Nations Medal, and the service member must have been presented the medal by a representative of the Secretary-General.  
 
 d.  The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960) was awarded by the Government of the Republic of Vietnam to service members of the U.S. Armed Forces who served in the Republic of Vietnam for 6 months during period 1 March 1961 to 28 March 1973, inclusive.  To qualify, personnel must have served in the Republic of Vietnam for 6 months or for less than 6 months and have been:  
 
. wounded by hostile forces 

. captured by hostile forces, but later escaped, was rescued, or released 

. killed in action or otherwise in the line of duty 


 
 e.  A bronze service star, based on qualifying service for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation, will be worn on the appropriate service medal.  A silver service star is authorized in lieu of five bronze service stars.  During his service in Vietnam, the applicant participated in two campaigns. 
 
3.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) shows that during the applicant's [period of service in Vietnam, the applicant's unit was authorized the following awards: 
 
 a.  DAGO Number 8, dated 19 March 1974, announced award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation to Headquarters, U.S. Military Assistance Command during the period 8 February 1962 to 28 March 1973 and Headquarters, United States Army Vietnam during the period 20 July 1965 to 28 March 1973, and their subordinate units. 
 
 b.  The 232nd Signal Company was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation (2nd Award) under the following orders: 
 
. DAGO 3, dated 1966, for the period February 1962 to June 1965 

. DAGO 17, dated 1968, for the period July 1965 to June 1966 


 
//NOTHING FOLLOWS//