| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Wanda L. Waller | Analyst |
| Ms. Joann Langston | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Margaret K. Patterson | Member | |
| Mr. Eric N. Andersen | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: Award of the Army Commendation Medal.
APPLICANT STATES: In effect, that he was never officially recognized for his service and should be awarded the Army Commendation Medal for his dedication to his duties in the service of his country. He contends that he was injured in Vietnam and was not in a command long enough where exemplary service was usually recognized with the award of the Bronze Star Medal or the Army Commendation Medal. In support of his application, he submits a letter of explanation, dated 16 July 2001, wherein he describes his military career and assignments; three letters of Appreciation and Recommendation and numerous copies of his service records.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records show:
The applicant was inducted on 3 October 1966. He served as an infantry operations and intelligence specialist and was honorably discharged on
30 August 1967 to accept a commission. The applicant was appointed as a Reserve officer and ordered to active duty on 31 August 1967. He served as an Adjutant General’s Corps Officer in Vietnam from 17 September 1969 through
24 January 1970 and was released from active duty on 1 September 1970.
The applicant’s DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) does not show the Army Commendation Medal as an authorized award.
There is no evidence in the applicant’s personnel records which shows that he was recommended for or awarded the Army Commendation Medal.
In support of his claim, the applicant provided copies of his service records and a Letter of Recognition, a Letter of Appreciation and a Letter of Recommendation for his outstanding performance of duty.
Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides that the Army Commendation Medal may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after
6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service. As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required. The bronze oak leaf cluster is awarded to denote the second and succeeding awards of certain decorations, among which is the Army Commendation Medal.
Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides in paragraph 3-1c that the decision to award an individual a decoration and the decision as to which award is appropriate are both subjective decisions made by the commander having award approval authority.
Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent pert, that acts or services which do not meet the criteria for decorations or the various authorized certificates may be recognized by written or oral expressions of commendation or appreciation.
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. The Board considered the applicant’s contention that he should be awarded the Army Commendation Medal for his dedication to his duties in the service of his country. However, evidence of record shows that the applicant received Letters of Recognition, Appreciation and Recommendation for his outstanding performance of duty.
2. There is no evidence of record available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows that he was recommended for or awarded the Army Commendation Medal. In the absence of a recommendation for an award of the Army Commendation Medal and in view of the letters of acknowledgement/recommendation tendered to the applicant, it is clear that his chain of command determined that these letters were the appropriate recognition for his actions.
3. The Board considered the letters provided by the applicant and all available evidence of record in this case and found no compelling evidence which warranted an award of the Army Commendation Medal instead of the letters of acknowledgement/recommendation he received. Therefore, the applicant is not entitled to correction of his military records to show award of the Army Commendation Medal.
4. 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. The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy this requirement.
5. In view of the foregoing, there is 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.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
JL______ MKP____ ENA_____ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2001060374 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20011204 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | (DENY) |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0020 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080014510
Records show the applicant completed a qualifying period of active Federal service for issuance of the Army Lapel Button. In any event, while letters of appreciation and/or commendation may be filed in military service records, they are not recorded on the DD Form 214. As a matter of information, awards and service medals are not issued by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR).
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002074202C070403
In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice. The Board considered the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090014358
The applicant's military service records are not available to the Board for review. There are no orders or other evidence in the applicant's available military service records that show he was awarded an individual decoration. c. Paragraph 3-18 governs award of the Army Achievement Medal and states that the Army Achievement Medal is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, on or after 1 August 1981, distinguished himself or herself by meritorious service or achievement.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100014800
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show award of the Army of Occupation Medal. Army Regulation 600-8-22 states the Army Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency, and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a....
ARMY | DRB | CY2005 | 20050006842
The applicant requests, in effect, that his records should be corrected to show his entitlement to the Army Service Ribbon (ASR), Honorable Service Commemorative Medal, Army National Guard (ARNG) and United States Army Reserve (USAR) Commemorative Medal, and United States Armed Forces Retired Service Commendation Medal. The applicant’s Personnel Qualification Record (DA Form 2-1), which he last reviewed on 3 March 1988, shows he earned the following awards during his military service: Air...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 20040003727C070208
The applicant requests, in effect, that item 38 of his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) be corrected to show his correct principal duties; that he be awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM), the Bronze Star Medal (BSM), the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), the Air Medal, and two awards of the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM); that his NGB Form 21 (sic, presumably means the NGB Form 22) be corrected to reflect that he was twice chosen as Battery Soldier of the Year and...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002077281C070215
The applicant requests that award of the Army Achievement Medal be added to his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). However, there is no evidence of record which shows the applicant was recommended for or awarded the Army Achievement Medal based on these certificates. Evidence of record shows the applicant was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service from 12 February 1998 to 20 August 2000.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100012917
The applicant provides his: * DD Form 214 * DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record - Part II) * Orders Number 5-6, awarding him the Army Commendation Medal * Orders Number 4-11, awarding him the Army Achievement Medal * A Certificate of Commendation showing he served with distinction with VII Corps among the coalition forces fighting for the liberation of Kuwait * A Certificate of Commendation for earning the Recruiter Ring * A Certificate of Training for successfully completing the 62E...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090012220
Awards of the Army Commendation Medal may be made for acts of valor performed under circumstances described above which are of lesser degree than required for award of the Bronze Star Medal. The evidence of record shows the FSM was awarded the EAME Campaign Medal. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by adding to his WD AGO Form 53-55 the Army Commendation Medal and adding four bronze service stars to his...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100014087
The evidence shows that he was awarded two ARCOMs during the period 3 January 2003 and 8 July 2005. The evidence shows he received two ARCOMs for outstanding or meritorious service; however, the OIF ARCOM was specifically recommended for achievement. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. rescinding and removing USAHRC Permanent Orders 238-33, dated 26 August 2009, from his official military personnel file...