APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That his military records be corrected to show that he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM), the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and the Purple Heart.

APPLICANT STATES:  In effect, that he served with a special forces unit in Vietnam which was involved in combat operations during which he was wounded by shrapnel, but he has never received a CIB or a Purple Heart.  In support of his request, he has provided a copy of the general orders awarding him the ARCOM.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

He enlisted in the Regular Army on 12 July 1968 with 2 years of prior service.  He was trained as a radio teletype operator and served in Vietnam between 20 July 1968 and 23 March 1970 with a special forces group.  He was honorably discharged on 16 July 1971 in pay grade E-4.

The awards reflected on his DD Form 214, Report of Transfer or Discharge, include the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Parachutist Badge and the Vietnamese Parachutist Badge.

His personnel records contain no information indicating that he was recommended for or awarded the CIB, nor do the available medical records show that he was wounded in action or treated for a combat related injury.

Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides, in pertinent part, that to be eligible for the CIB, an individual must be an infantryman with an infantry military occupational specialty and must perform primary duty as an infantryman, as a member of an infantry unit of brigade or smaller size, during any period in which that unit was engaged in ground combat.  Battle participation credit alone is not sufficient.

The same regulation provides, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as a result of hostile action. Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify that the wound was the result of hostile action, the wound must have required treatment by a medical officer, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.

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.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  There is no evidence in the available records to show that the applicant was awarded a CIB or that he participated in combat operations that would authorize him to be awarded the CIB.  

2.  Likewise, there is no indication in his medical records to show that he was injured as a result of combat action and is entitled to award of the Purple Heart.  

3.  In view of the foregoing, there appears to be no basis for granting the applicant’s request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

NOTE:  Based on the documentation submitted with his application, he is entitled to the ARCOM, and considering the period during which he served in Vietnam, he should also have been awarded the Vietnam Campaign Medal.  Therefore, the Army Review Board Agency, Support Division, St. Louis will be directed to issue to him a correction of his DD Form 214 showing the aforementioned awards.

BOARD VOTE:

                       GRANT          

                       GRANT FORMAL HEARING

                       DENY APPLICATION




						Karl F. Schneider
						Acting Director