IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 4 October 2023 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20230003092 APPLICANT REQUESTS: award of the Army Good Conduct Medal. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * three letters of commendation FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the 3-year time frame provided in Title 10, U.S. 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 he served for two years without one blemish on his record. 3. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 13 November 1968 for a period of two years. 4. The applicant's DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows: a. He served in Vietnam from 23 April 1969 to 4 April 1970. b. He received all "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings throughout his active duty service. 5. The applicant's record is void of any unfavorable information or a unit commander's disqualification that would have precluded him from being recommended for or awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal. 6. The applicant was honorably released from active duty on 12 November 1970 in the rank/grade of specialist four/E-4 after completing two years of active service. His DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) does not show the Army Good Conduct Medal as an authorized award. 7. The applicant provided three letters of commendation which he received after his return from Vietnam and assignment to Fort Carson, Colorado. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application, all supporting documents, and the evidence found within the military record, 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 applicant’s petition and available military records, the Board determined there is sufficient evidence to grant award of the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award). Evidence in the record reflects the applicant received "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings throughout his service for the period of 13 November 1968 to 12 November 1970. Based on this, the Board granted relief for correction of the applicant’s record to award him the Army Good Conduct Medal and add his Republic of Vietnam awards that were omitted from his DD Form 214. 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 Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by adding in item 24(Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) * Tet 69 Counteroffensive 1969 * Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 * Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 * Delete Vietnam Service Medal w/ three bronze service stars o Add: Vietnam Service Medal w/ one silver star and one bronze * and award him the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) for exemplary service from 13 November 1968 to 12 November 1970 and adding the medal to his DD Form 214 for the period ending 12 November 1970. 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. 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 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 672-5-1 (Awards), in effect at the time, states 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. 3. DA PAM 672-3 (Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register (January 1960 – February 1986)) shows: The applicant completed service in Vietnam during the following campaigns: • Vietnam Summer – Fall I 1969, 9 June 1969 – 31 October 1969 • Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970, 1 November 1969—30 April 1970 • DA Sanctuary Counteroffensive, 1 May 1970 – 30 June 1970 • Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase VII, 1 July 1970 – 30 June 1971 4. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides that the Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to all service members of the Armed Forces of the United States for qualifying service in Vietnam after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973. Qualifying service included attachment to or assignment for 1 or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations. One bronze service star is authorized with the Vietnam Service Medal for each campaign during which a member was assigned or attached to and present for duty with a unit during the period in which it participated in combat. A silver service star is worn instead of five bronze service stars. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20230003092 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1