ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 3 June 2021 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20200009141 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to reflect the military occupational specialty (MOS) 67A1F (Door Gunner) and the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM). APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: . DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) . ARCOM award letter . ARCOM citation . ARCOM certificate . Special Orders Number 315 . DD Form 214 FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the three-year time frame provided in Title 10, United States Code, section 1552(b); however, the 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 the Door Gunner MOS was not added to his DD Form 214 before discharge and the ARCOM was awarded after active duty discharge. 3. The applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 27 February 1969 and entered active service at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. 4. The applicant’s DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows: a. He was awarded the primary MOS of 70A (Clerk) on 17 July 1969, and was awarded the primary MOS of 71P (Flight Operations Coordinator) on 5 September 1969. b. He served in the Republic of Vietnam from 5 October 1969 to 4 October 1970 and was assigned to the 498th Medical Company. The applicant’s duty MOS is listed as 71P20. c. He received "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings throughout his active service. 5. The applicant’s record contains, and he provided, a copy of Special Orders Number 315 published by Headquarters, 44th Medical Brigade, dated 11 November 1969, that shows assignment of the duty MOS 67A1F (Door Gunner) effective 21 October 1969. 6. The applicant's record is void of any unfavorable information or a unit commander's disqualification statement that would have precluded him from being awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM). 7. The applicant was honorably discharged on 4 October 1970. He was credited with 1 year, 7 months, and 8 days of net active service. Item 23a (Specialty Number & Title) of his DD Form 214 shows 71P20 Flt Oper Coord. Among his awarded or authorized medals and badges are the National Defense Service Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, 2 Overseas Bars, M-16 Expert Marksman Qualification Badge. His DD Form 214 does not show the AGCM. 8. The applicant's record contains General Orders Number 1873, dated 15 October 1970, announcing award of ARCOM to the applicant. This is sufficient evidence to support the addition of the award to his DD Form 214. His DD Form 214 for the period ending 4 October 1970 will be administratively corrected without Board action to show award of the ARCOM. 9. Army Regulation (AR) 635-5 (Personnel Separations – Separation Documents) prescribes the separation documents which are prepared for individuals upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service. Chapter 2 (Preparation of Separation Documents) details when and how the DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) will be prepared. 10. Army Regulation 672-5-1 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that relief was warranted. The Board carefully considered the applicant's record of service, documents submitted in support of the petition and executed a comprehensive and standard review based on law, policy and regulation. Upon review of the applicants petition and available military records the Board found there was sufficient evidence to show the applicant was awarded the military occupational specialty(MOS) of 67A1F (Door Gunner). The Board determined the applicant's service record did not reflect he was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM) and his record shows he received "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings throughout his service. Based on this the Board determined relief was warranted and granted relief. 2. Prior to closing the case, the Board did note the analyst of record administrative notes below, and recommended the correction is completed to more accurately depict the military service of the applicant. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 XXX XXX XX GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, in addition to the corrections that follow in Administrative Notes, the Board recommends that all Department of Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending his DD Form 214 to show his military occupational specialty as 67A1F (Door Gunner and by awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal. 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 his DD Form 214 covering the period ending 4 October 1970, should be amended by deleting the Vietnam Service Medal from item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) and adding the following to item 24: . Army Commendation Medal . Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars REFERENCES: 1. Title 10, USC, 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 ABCMR to excuse an applicant's failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. 2. Army Regulation 635-5 (Personnel Separations – Separation Documents) prescribes the separation documents which are prepared for individuals upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service. Chapter 2 (Preparation of Separation Documents) details when and how the DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) will be prepared. Paragraph 52 provides instructions for item 23a which states enter primary MOS code number, title, and date of award. In addition, enter PMOS evaluation score and date of score. If the enlisted person has not received a PMOS evaluation score, enter “None”. 3. Army Regulation 672-5-1 (Military Awards), in effect at the time, prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. a. The ARCOM established by the Secretary of War on 18 December 1945, and amended in Department of the Army General Orders 10, 1960, is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, shall have distinguished himself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service. Award may be made to a member of the Armed Forces of a friendly foreign nation who, after 1 June 1962, distinguishes himself by an act of heroism, extraordinary achievement, or meritorious service which has been of mutual benefit to a friendly nation and the United States. b. The AGCM 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. There must have been no convictions by a court-martial. 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. 3. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. a. The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960) was awarded by the Government of Vietnam to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States for qualifying service in Vietnam during the period 1 March 1961 through 28 March 1973. Qualifying service included assignment in Vietnam for 6 months or more. b. A bronze service star is authorized with the Vietnam Service Medal for participation in each credited campaign. //NOTHING FOLLOWS//