APPLICANT REQUESTS: That he be issued the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) that he was awarded in Vietnam.
APPLICANT STATES: In effect, that while he was in Vietnam in 1971 his unit came under attack and he assisted in getting personnel into a bunker and saving the life of another NCO.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records show:
He enlisted in the Regular Army for 6 years on 11 December 1970 and after training as a food service specialist served 10 months and 13 days in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged on 1 December 1976 at the completion of his term of service.
His awards include the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Sharpshooter Badge with rifle bar.
The applicants military records contain no information indicating that he was either recommended for or awarded the BSM; nor, is there any information in the file concerning the lifesaving actions he performed while in Vietnam that he alludes to in the statement accompanying his application.
Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides, in pertinent part, that the Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army of the United States after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy; or while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
Policy guidance concerning military awards provides that the primary requirement for award of a decoration is that a formal recommendation be prepared and introduced into official military channels within 2 years of the act, achievement, or service to be recognized. The sole exception to the 2-year time limit occurs when there is conclusive evidence that a formal recommendation was submitted but was lost, or through inadvertence was never acted on by proper authority.
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. After examining his military records, no evidence was found that he was awarded the BSM. Further, the records contain no documentation to indicate that a recommendation might have been submitted but was lost or had failed to be acted upon by proper authority.
2. In view of the foregoing, there appears to be no basis for granting the applicants request.
DETERMINATION: The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.
BOARD VOTE:
GRANT
GRANT FORMAL HEARING
DENY APPLICATION
Karl F. Schneider
Acting Director
ARMY | BCMR | CY1996 | 9610853C070209
APPLICANT REQUESTS: That he be awarded the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) with V device and the Purple Heart. He includes with his request a copy of a June 1993 medical consultation as proof of his shrapnel wound. After examining the military records, no evidence was found that he was awarded the BSM or BSM with V device.
ARMY | BCMR | CY1996 | 9608382C070209
APPLICANT REQUESTS: That his DD Form 214, Report of Separation, be corrected to show that he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) for wounds received in Vietnam. Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as the result of hostile action. After examining the available records, there is no evidence that the applicant was recommended for or awarded the BSM, or that a recommendation for...
ARMY | BCMR | CY1996 | 9608346C070209
APPLICANT REQUESTS: That his records be corrected to reflect that he was awarded the Cambodian Campaign Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) and the Expert Rifle Badge. There are no documents in his military personnel file to show that he was awarded the BSM or an Expert Badge with rifle bar. There is no evidence in the available records to show that he qualified as an expert with the rifle and was awarded an Expert Badge with rifle bar.
ARMY | BCMR | CY1995 | 9510990C070209
APPLICANT REQUESTS: That his DD Form 214, Report of Transfer or Discharge, be corrected to reflect that he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal with V device (BSM). The record contains no evidence, however, that he was either recommended for or awarded a BSM with V during his service. Army Regulation 600-22-8, Military Awards, provides, in pertinent part, that the Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army of the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100009130
There is no evidence in the available records to show the applicant was ever recommended for or awarded the BSM for his service in Vietnam. This is further supported by the fact that the applicant was awarded the ARCOM for meritorious service during his second tour in Vietnam which would preclude an award of the BSM for meritorious service during the same period as it would be a duplicate award for the same service. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080012018
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). The applicant requests, in effect, that his record be corrected to show he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (BSM). In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100020997
The two BSM certificates provided by the applicant show he was awarded the BSM (first award) for the period December 1969 to November 1970 on 5 December 1970. The applicant provides two BSM Certificates that show two awards of the BSM; however, they are for the same period of meritorious service and his records only contain orders for one award of the BSM. However, the applicant's records do contain orders awarding him the Air Medal.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140018263
He was ordered to active duty on 27 December 1970. A DA Form 67-6 (U.S. Army officer Efficiency Report) for the period 20 April 1970 to 17 December 1970 shows in: a. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. deleting from his DD Form 214 the VSM; and b. adding to his DD Form 214 the: * BSM * VSM with three bronze service stars * MUC * RVN Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140021310
However, he provided a BSM Certificate, dated 21 October 1968, which shows he was awarded the BSM for meritorious achievement during the period 2 December 1967 to 2 August 1968 in Vietnam. Also eligible for this award are individuals who qualified for award of the Vietnam Service Medal or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and served for less than 6 months of service but: * were wounded as a result of hostile action * were captured by hostile forces but later escaped or were rescued or...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001059007C070421
The applicant states, in effect, that his military records do not reflect that he was awarded the CIB and the BSM with “V” Device. The CIB and BSM with “V” Device are not recorded in the DA Form 20. The evidence of record shows that the applicant served as a light weapons infantryman (11B) in an infantry unit involved in combat operations while serving in Vietnam.