| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Jessie B. Strickland | Analyst |
| Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Melinda M. Darby | Member | |
| Mr. John T. Meixell | Member |
2. The applicant requests that his records be corrected to reflect his awards of the Purple Heart, the Air Medal, and any other awards he is entitled to receive.
3. The applicant states, in effect, that he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Air Medal in Vietnam; however, they were not included on his report of separation (DD Form 214) at the time of his release from active duty (REFRAD). He requests that he be awarded any additional awards to which he may be entitled and submits a copy of his Purple Heart Citation and his Air Medal Citation and orders, in support of his application.
4. The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted in Baltimore, Maryland on 1 August 1966. He successfully completed his training as a light weapons infantryman and was assigned to the 191st Aviation Detachment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
5. On 23 May 1967, he was transferred to Vietnam with his unit and was assigned the duties of a door gunner. He was awarded the Air Medal on 20 July 1967 for the period of 22 June to 3 July 1967.
6. He was reassigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) and Band Support Command, 9th Infantry Division on 23 August 1967 and was advanced to the pay grade of E-4 on 26 August 1967, when he was assigned the duties of a chaplain’s assistant.
7. He was wounded on 23 December 1967 and was awarded a Purple Heart at the medical treatment facility on 24 December 1967.
8. On 22 February 1968, he was reassigned to HHC, 3rd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division for duty as a senior rifleman. He was promoted to the pay grade of E-5 on 1 May 1968, and departed Vietnam on 14 May 1968, for Oakland Army Base, California.
9. On 17 May 1968, he was honorably REFRAD as an early overseas returnee. He had served 1 year, 9 months and 17 days of total active service and his DD Form 214 issued at the time of his REFRAD shows that he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. His records also show that he had excellent conduct and efficiency ratings and contains no derogatory information or record of disciplinary action being taken against him during his active service.
10. In the processing of this case a staff member of the Board contacted officials at the Total Army Personnel Command (PERSCOM) to ascertain if the applicant had been declared a casualty in Vietnam. Officials at the PERSCOM confirmed that the applicant was reported as a battle casualty on 23 December 1967, while assigned to the 9th Infantry Division.
11. Army Regulation 672-5-1, in effect at the time, prescribed Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning award of the Army Good Conduct Medal (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.
12. 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.
13. Table 1 (Army Units in Numerical Order) of the pamphlet indicates that the applicant’s 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 for service in Vietnam during the period the applicant was assigned.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. At the time of the applicant’s REFRAD, his records should have reflected his awards of the Purple Heart and the Air Medal. Therefore, since an administrative oversight resulted in the omission of those awards, the Board finds that it would be in the interest of justice to add them at this time.
2. Although awarded subsequent to the applicant’s REFRAD, the applicant was entitled to be awarded the MUC and the RVMGC w/Palm and RVNCAHM-FC Unit Citations. Accordingly, it should be done so at this time.
3. 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 1 August 1966 to 17 May 1968. 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: That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:
a. by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart and the Air Medal.
b. by awarding him the MUC, the RVNGC w/Palm and RVNCAHM-FC Unit Citations; and
c. by awarding him the AGCM for the period of 1 August 1966 to 17 May 1968.
BOARD VOTE:
___jm___ ___md __ __inw ___ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
___Irene N. Wheelwright___
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2001065585 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 2002/04/16 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT PLUS |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. 189 | 110.0000/CORR 214 |
| 2. 61 | 107.0015/PH |
| 3. 64 | 107.0018/AM |
| 4. 102 | 107.0056/AGCM |
| 5. 140 | 107.0094/RVNGC |
| 6. 141 | 107.0095/RVNCAHM |
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 | CY2002 | 2002077114C070215
The Soldier’s Medal is awarded to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly foreign nation who, while serving in any capacity with the Army of the United states, distinguished himself or herself by heroism not involving actual conflict with the enemy. The evidence of record fails to show that the applicant was wounded/injured as a result of enemy action. Additionally, there is no evidence that the applicant was recommended for an award of the Soldier’s Medal...
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 | CY2010 | 20100008295
The applicant requests that his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected to reflect his awards of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) and the Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM). He had served 1 year and 9 months of active service and his DD Form 214 issued at the time of his REFRAD shows he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), the Combat Medical Badge, and the Purple Heart. As a...
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 | CY2001 | 2001065469C070421
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. Table 1 (Army Units in Numerical Order) of the pamphlet indicates that the applicant’s unit was subsequently awarded 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 for service in Vietnam...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080001388
The evidence of record clearly shows that the applicant was wounded as a result of enemy action on 19 September 1967 in Vietnam and that he was medically evacuated for treatment and he was subsequently retired as a result of permanent physical disability. After carefully examining the applicants record of service, it was determined that the applicant should have received the AGCM for his service from 4 April 1966 through 22 April 1968. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080011742
The applicant requests that his records be corrected to add all decorations and awards to which he is entitled. Additionally, after carefully examining the applicants record of service, it was determined that the applicant should have received the AGCM for his service from 19 April 1966 through 18 April 1969. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by awarding him the AGCM for the period of 19 April 1966 through 18...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002080933C070215
He further states that his commander recommended him for the Silver Star and he should have also received the Purple Heart for his wounds. Army Regulation 15-185, the regulation under which this Board operates, states that the Board will not consider any application if it determines that the applicant has not exhausted all administrative remedies available to them. After carefully examining the applicant’s record of service, the Board has determined that the applicant should have received...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002074809C070403
However, his records do contain orders awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal (GCMDL) on 13 June 1968, which was not recorded on his DD Form 214 at the time of his REFRAD. While the applicant’s records do not contain a copy of the orders awarding him the Purple Heart, his records clearly contain information showing that he was wounded in combat on 14 May 1967 and that he was treated by medical personnel at the time. RECOMMENDATION : That all of the Department of the Army records related...