2.  The applicant requests that his DD Form 214, Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to show that he completed a foreign service tour in Vietnam and was awarded the appropriate service awards for that tour.  (He also requests correction of his date of birth; however, it was corrected administratively by the Army Reserve Personnel Center).

3.  He states that after arriving in Vietnam, he was 
diagnosed with diabetes mellitus which resulted in his medical evacuation and ultimate separation from the service.

4.  His military record shows he was inducted on 17 June 1968 and after 10 months services in the states he was reassigned to Vietnam.  Approximately 1 month after arriving in Vietnam he was hospitalized with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus requiring insulin for control.  His disease was determined to have developed in the line of duty but since it required insulin treatment, he was considered unfit for retention in the service.  Accordingly, he was honorably discharged for physical disability and rated 20 percent disabled.

5.  His DD Form 214 shows that he was credited with a total of 1 year, 5 months and 2 days of active service.  He was not credited with any foreign service and his only significant military award is the National Defense Service Medal.

6.  Army Regulation 635-5, Separation Documents, provides in pertinent part, that the DD Form 214 will reflect the total active duty performed outside the continental limits of the United States.  The Army regulation pertaining to overseas service and the award of tour credit provides that individuals in a permanent change of station status overseas who are medically evacuated to the States or facilities elsewhere for hospitalization for a disease determined to be in the line of duty will be credited with a completed overseas tour. 

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides, in pertinent part, that the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) is awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States serving in Vietnam and contiguous waters or airspace thereover, after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973.  To qualify for award of the VSM an individual must be attached to or regularly serve for 1 or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations.

8.  The same regulation states that the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, a foreign award, was awarded to individuals who served in Vietnam for 6 months during the period 1 March 1961 to 28 March 1973, inclusive.


CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s assignment in Vietnam, albeit short, met the prerequisite of the regulation for completion of a foreign service tour and should be reflected on his DD Form 214.

2.  Similarly, he also satisfied the criterion for the VSM by serving at least one day in Vietnam during the designated time period and should, therefore, have been awarded the VSM.  It does not appear that he is authorized any other awards for his service in Vietnam.

3.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:

    a.  by showing that the individual concerned completed a foreign service tour in Vietnam; and

    b.  by showing he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

                       GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

                       GRANT FORMAL HEARING

                       DENY APPLICATION




		                           
		        CHAIRPERSON