PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           26 November 2002   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002076202

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Samuel A. Crumpler		Chairperson	
	Mr. Roger W. Able		Member	
	Mr. Hubert O. Fry		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests, in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show four bronze service stars to be affixed on his Vietnam Service Medal and two additional Overseas Service Bars.  He also requests any awards or decorations to which he may be entitled. 

3.  The applicant provides no statement on his application.  

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he served in the Navy Reserve from 20 July 1954 through 14 June 1960.  He entered active duty in the Regular Army on 15 June 1960 and was honorably discharged on 15 June 1962 and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve.  He subsequently served in the Army National Guard and was commissioned a second lieutenant on 10 July 1964.  The applicant entered active duty on 12 March 1967 and served two tours in Vietnam as an advisor.  On 10 May 1972, the applicant was permanently retired by reason of physical disability.    

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows that the served in Vietnam from 
11 March 1968 through 19 February 1969 and from 5 January 1971 through 
4 January 1972.

6.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows the Vietnam Service Medal and two Overseas Service Bars as authorized awards.

7.  Item 22 (Campaigns) on the applicant’s DA Form 66 (Officer Qualification Record) shows that he participated in four campaigns during his first tour in Vietnam.  Records also show that he participated in three campaigns during his second tour in Vietnam.

8.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) shows the applicant is entitled to award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation based on Department of the Army General Orders Number 8, dated 1974.  This award is not shown on his discharge document.

9.  Review of the applicant’s records and Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) does not reveal entitlement to any additional awards.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, authorizes award of a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation and states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate service medal.  The regulation also states that a silver service star is authorized in lieu of five bronze service stars.

11.  Army Regulation 670-1, in effect at the time, governs the requirements for the Overseas Service Bar.  In pertinent part, it provides that a bar is authorized for wear for each period of active Federal service as a member of the U.S. Army outside of the continental limits of the United States for the specific time frames and areas of operation cited in Army Regulation 670-1 or appropriate Department of the Army message.  There are special provisions regarding authorization for the Overseas Service Bar for service in a hostile fire zone and for combining service to calculate award of the bars.  For Vietnam service, one overseas service bar is authorized for each period of 6 months active Federal service as a member of a U.S. Service in Vietnam from 1 July 1958 to 28 March 1973.  Both the month of arrival and the month of departure from Vietnam are counted as whole months for credit toward the overseas service bar.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows the Vietnam Service Medal as an authorized award.  However, evidence of record shows the applicant participated in seven campaigns during his two assignments in Vietnam which are not correctly shown by award of one silver service star and two bronze service stars for wear on his Vietnam Service Medal.  Therefore, in accordance with the governing regulation, the applicant is entitled to the Vietnam Service Medal with one silver service star and two bronze service stars and correction of his DD Form 214 to show these awards.   

2.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows two awards of the Overseas Service Bars.  However, based on the applicant’s dates of service in Vietnam, he is entitled to four awards of the Overseas Service Bar.  Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show four awards of the Overseas Service Bar.  

3.  The applicant’s unit was cited for award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation while he was assigned to it.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his military records to show this unit citation.

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

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal with one silver service star and two bronze service stars, four awards of 

the Overseas Service Bar and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.  

BOARD VOTE:  

SAC__  RWA_____  HOF_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_Samuel A. Crumpler_____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002076202	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20021126	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.