| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Jessie B. Strickland | Analyst |
| Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr. | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Celia L. Adolphi | Member | |
| Mr. John T. Meixell | Member |
2. The applicant requests that he be awarded the Purple Heart.
3. The applicant states that he was wounded and was never awarded the Purple Heart. In support of his application he submits a copy of a medical record with no identifying name or number indicating that a suture was put in a left foot in January 1969, at a medical dispensary in Vietnam.
4. The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted on 11 April 1968, and was transferred to Fort Benning, Georgia, to undergo his training. On 17 April 1968, he was honorably discharged for the purpose of enlisting in the Regular Army. He reenlisted on 18 April 1968, for a period of 3 years and training as an ammunition records specialist.
5. He completed his training and was transferred to Vietnam on 31 August 1968, for duty as an ammunition records clerk. He was promoted to the pay grade of E-5 on 14 June 1969, and departed Vietnam on 25 August 1969, for assignment to Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
6. On 10 April 1970, he was honorably released from active duty due to an unfulfilled enlistment commitment. He had served 2 years of total active service and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.
7. A review of his records, to include the medical and physical examination conducted at the time of separation fails to reveal that the applicant was wounded while in Vietnam. His records do reveal that he had excellent conduct and efficiency ratings and contains no evidence of a derogatory nature.
8. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, 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 a result of hostile action, that the wound must have required treatment by a medical officer, and that the medical treatment was made a matter of official record.
9. Army Regulation 600-8-22 also prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning award of the AGCM. It states, in pertinent part, that the AGCM was established by Executive Order 8809, 28 June 1941, and was amended by Executive Order 9323, 1943 and by Executive Order 10444, 10 April 1953, and is awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal military service. The regulation also states, in pertinent part, that for first award only, upon termination of service on or after 27 June 1950, a period of service of less than 3 years but more than 1 year qualifies for award of the AGCM.
10. Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register-Vietnam Era) was published to assist commanders and personnel officers in determining or establishing the eligibility of individual members for campaign participation credit, assault landing credit, and unit citation badges awarded during the Vietnam Conflict. It shows that subsequent to the applicant’s departure. His unit was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/Palm) Unit Citation and the Meritorious Unit Citation (MUC) for the period during which the applicant was assigned to that unit.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The evidence of record fails to clearly show that the applicant was wounded/injured as a result of enemy action. Therefore, it appears that he is not entitled to be awarded the Purple Heart.
2. However, the evidence of record does show that his unit was awarded the RVNGC w/Palm Unit Citation and the MUC subsequent to his departure from Vietnam and he should have received those awards. Accordingly, it would be in the interest of justice to do so at this time.
3. Additionally, after carefully examining the applicant’s record of service, the Board has determined that the applicant should have received the AGCM for his service from 11 April 1968 to 10 April 1970. This conclusion is based on the fact that the record is void of any derogatory information, which would preclude the applicant from being awarded the AGCM, and the lack of any specific action by the applicant’s unit commander to disqualify him from receiving the award.
4. The Board found that the applicant not receiving the AGCM was likely the result of an administrative error as opposed to it being the result of a conscious disqualification by any of the unit commanders for which he served. Therefore, in the interest of justice, the Board determined that this error should be corrected and the applicant should receive the AGCM at this time.
5. 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 by awarding the individual concerned the RVNGC w/ palm Unit Citation and MUC for his service in Vietnam, and the AGCM for the period 11 April 1968 to 10 April 1970 while serving in the rank of SP5, and that his records be corrected accordingly.
2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
__jm____ ___cla___ __rvo ___ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
__Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.___
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2001064440 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 2002/02/28 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT PARTIAL |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. 61 | 107.0015/PH |
| 2. 102 | 107.0056/AGCM |
| 3. 140 | 107.0094/RVNGC |
| 4. 80 | 107.0034/MUC |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002068947C070402
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. Although his records contain no evidence that he was awarded the Purple Heart for his wound, the certificate provided by the applicant shows that he was awarded the Purple Heart by the hospital commander on 23 January 1969, for wounds received in action on 13 December 1968. After carefully examining the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003084961C070212
The applicant states, in effect, that he was wounded in Vietnam and was not awarded the Purple Heart. The evidence of record clearly shows that the applicant was wounded in Vietnam on 19 February 1969, while serving in the pay grade of E-4, and that he was hospitalized as a result of that wound. RECOMMENDATION : That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the individual concerned the Purple Heart for wounds received on 19 February 1969,...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002080013C070215
However, the evidence of record does establish that he is entitled to be awarded the RVNCAHM-FC Unit Citation, the RVNGC w/Palm Unit Citation, the MUC and four bronze service stars for wear on his already awarded VSM. After carefully examining the applicant’s record of service, the Board has determined that the applicant should have received the AGCM for his service from 14 November 1967 through 12 July 1969. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090007102
The applicant states that he was wounded in action in Vietnam on 15 September 1968. Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) issued at the time of his REFRAD shows that the applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star Medal (BSM), National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), the Republic of Vietnam...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 2004100203C070208
The applicant is requesting correction of an alleged error which occurred on 19 February 1971. The evidence of record as well as the evidence submitted by the applicant with his application fails to show that the applicant was wounded in action against the enemy on or about 10 July 1970. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by awarding him the GCMDL for the period of 20 February 1969 to 19 February 1971, the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080001479
Table 1 (Army Units in Numerical Order) of the pamphlet indicates that the applicants unit was subsequently awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC), the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/Palm) Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class (RVNCAHM-FC) Unit Citation during the period he was assigned to the unit. Therefore, in the interest of justice, this error should be corrected and the applicant should receive the AGCM at...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003088181C070403
He had served 1 year, 10 months and 23 days of total active service and his DD Form 214 issued at the time of his REFRAD indicates that he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) and the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Bade with M-14 Rifle Bar. The applicant's records clearly show that he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Parachutist Badge and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; however, for reasons that are not explained in the available records, they...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003089769C070403
The applicant requests that his records be corrected to reflect his award of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) with "V" Device. On 19 October 1969, orders were published in Vietnam awarding the applicant the BSM for meritorious service during the period of September 1968 to September 1969. 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 Purple Heart, the BSM, the BSM w/...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002079803C070215
Accordingly, absent orders which show an effective date of promotion and a date of rank, the Board finds no basis to promote him at this time. After carefully examining the applicant’s record of service, the Board has determined that the applicant should have received the AGCM for his service from 7 June 1968 to 3 March 1970. b. by correcting his records to show his awards of the Purple Heart, the BSM, three bronze service stars, the AGCM and the RVNGC w/Palm Unit Citation.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002068780C070402
Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound/injury sustained as a result of hostile action. Although the applicant’s separation medical examination indicates that the applicant sustained injuries in Vietnam, there is no evidence in the available records to show that the applicant was wounded or injured in Vietnam during an action by enemy forces. After carefully examining the applicant’s record of service, the Board has determined that...