IN THE CASE OF: 

		BOARD DATE:  20 October 2022

		DOCKET NUMBER: AR20220002807


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United 
States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show his military occupational specialty of 
(MOS) 13A (Cannoneer) which he held during his service in Vietnam.

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD:

*	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
*	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 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 only shows his MOS during the last 6 months of service, which 
was served stateside. His DD Form 214 does not mention anything about his time as a 
105mm howitzer powder man and powder rammer, but it does reflect the awards he 
received related to this job. The record needs to reflect his true service to the U.S. 
Army. His service as a 105mm howitzer [crewman] contributed to his hearing loss but 
because this information is not in his official records, it has been difficult getting the 
adequate treatment for his hearing loss. 

	b.  His DD Form 214 shows his MOS as 94B (Cook), however, this is the job he held 
only for the last 6 months of his 2-year commitment to the U.S. Army. What was omitted 
from his DD Form 214 is his time served as a 105mm howitzer powder man and powder 
rammer while in Vietnam. 

	c.  In April 1967, he was sent to Fort Polk, LA for 6 weeks of basic training after 
which he was sent to Fort Sill, OK for an additional 6 weeks of artillery training before 
being sent off to Vietnam. Once he arrived in Vietnam, he was assigned to an artillery 
unit that gave fire support to the 1st Infantry Division. His job was to supply fire power 
and suppression power. They used two and a half ton trucks to haul the 105mm 
howitzers. There were times they had to push the trucks because the rice patties were 
so deep, up to their knees, that they could not just drive through. Due to the impossible 
terrain, there were times their rounds of ammunition were picked up and moved to the 
next firing location by Chinook helicopters. Sometimes, they were also moved from 
point A to point B by Chinook helicopters.

	d.  That was his job for the first 15 months of my 24-month commitment to the U.S. 
Army. Because the Army offered a "2 for 1" after serving your first 12 months in 
Vietnam, his 15 months served in Vietnam were counted as 18 months served, leaving 
him with only 6 additional months to serve stateside, on my 2-year draft commitment. 

	e.  Upon rotating from Vietnam back to the United States with 6 months left on his 
draft duty, he was given the choice of either the motor pool or kitchen duty. He chose 
kitchen duty. He made kitchen supervisor 3 weeks after my arrival and remained a 
kitchen supervisor for the remainder of his tour. When I arrived stateside, his rank was 
E-4 but was promoted to E-5 while serving as a kitchen supervisor. Once his 6 months 
were completed, he was honorably discharged as my 2-year commitment to the U.S. 
had been fulfilled.

	f.  His DD Form 214 shows his MOS as 94B and related civilian occupation as 
kitchen supervisor. However, his DD Form 214 also lists numerous decorations, medals 
and badges awarded or authorized. The awards listed are the Vietnam Service Medal 
with 3 bronze service stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Expert (Rifle M-16), 
National Defense Service Medal, and Sharpshooter (Rifle M-14). These awards would 
not be awards given to a serviceman who simply worked as a cook or a kitchen 
supervisor his entire tour of duty. These awards were earned during his 15 months of 
service in MOS 13A while in Vietnam.

3.  The applicant was inducted into the Army on 28 April 1967.

4.  The applicant's DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he was awarded 
MOS 13A upon completion of initial entry training. His DA Form 20 also shows he 
arrived in Vietnam on 18 September 1967 and was assigned to 1st Battalion, 92nd 
Artillery with duties in MOS 13A. 

5.  Orders issued by the 1st Battalion, 92nd Artillery, APO SF 96318, on 29 March 1968, 
awarded the applicant MOS 94B. The orders show his MOS of 13A was withdrawn. 

6.  The applicant's DA Form 20 further shows he departed Vietnam on 13 April 1968.

7.  Orders issued by the 55th Aviation Battalion, Fort Hood, TX, on 18 December 1968, 
promoted the applicant to the rank and grade of specialist five/E-5 in MOS 94B.

8.  Orders issued on 11 April 1969 directed the applicant's release from active duty and 
transferred him to the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) effective 25 April 1969. The orders 
show his MOS as 94B.

9.  The applicant's DD Form 214 shows he was honorably released from active duty and 
transferred the USAR on 25 April 1969. The DD Form 214 shows in item 23a (Specialty 
Number and Title) the entry "94B2O Cook."


BOARD DISCUSSION:

1.  After reviewing the application, all supporting documents, and the evidence found 
within the military record, the Board found relief is warranted. 

2. Although the applicant’s DD Form 214 correctly shows the primary MOS the applicant 
held at the time of his release from active duty in item 23a, the Board found it would be 
appropriate to document his previous primary MOS and the period he held this MOS in 
item 30 (Remarks).

3. The Board further found the applicant met the criteria for award of the Army Good 
Conduct Medal. The Board determined he should be awarded this medal and it should 
be added to his DD Form 214.

4. The Board concurred with the corrections described in Administrative Note(s) below.


BOARD VOTE:

Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

:X	:X	:X	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, the Board recommends that all Department of 
the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by awarding him the Army 
Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) for the period 28 April 1967 through 25 April 1969 and 
amending his DD Form 214 by making the corrections described in Administrative 
Note(s) below and by adding to 

*	Item 24 – Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award)
*	Item 30 – “Primary Specialty 13A1O (Cannoneer), 25 August 1967 through 
28 March 1968” 

		  
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 is missing entries on his DD Form 214 that 
may be added without Board action.  Please correct the DD Form 214 by adding to:

*	Item 24 – Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation
*	Item 30 – “Service in Vietnam 18 September 1967 through 13 April 1968”


REFERENCES:

1.  Title 10, United States 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 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 635-5 (Separations Documents), 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 Army. It established standardized policy for the 
preparation of the DD Form 214. It states the DD Form 214 is a synopsis of the Soldier's 
most recent period of continuous active service. It provides a brief, clear-cut record of 
active Army service at the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge. 
The version of the regulation in effect at the time of the applicant's release from active 
duty provided that for item 23a, enter primary MOS, code number, and title. The 
regulation did not provide for the recording of previously held MOSs.

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.

//NOTHING FOLLOWS//
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20220002807


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ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


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