| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Deborah L. Brantley | Senior Analyst |
| Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Melinda M. Darby | Member | |
| Mr. John T. Meixell | Member |
1. The applicant requests that his records be corrected to reflect award of the Bronze Star Medal. He states that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal using an old social security number. He states that he lost his social security card and was issued a new number. In support of his request he submits a copy of his Bronze Star Medal award certificate.
2. Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty on
1 May 1968 and was assigned to Vietnam in October 1968. In December 1969, while assigned the 86th Transportation Company in Vietnam, he was promoted to pay grade E-5. The award certificate, submitted by the applicant in support of his request, indicates that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement during the period October 1968 to October 1969. There are no orders in the applicant's record which confirms the award. The certificate, however, was authenticated by a Colonel Gibson, and reflects the name of Stanley R. Resor who was the Secretary of the Army between 1965 and 1971. The applicant returned to the United States in April 1970.
3. The applicant's records, which were reconstructed at Fort Hood, Texas in May 1970, indicate the applicant returned to the United States in April 1970. Those records also confirm that the applicant did have two different social security numbers while in the Army.
4. The applicant served a second tour of duty in Vietnam between March 1971 and January 1972. During is second tour he was assigned to the 528th Quartermaster Company. The applicant completed his enlistment contract at Fort McClellan, Alabama where he was released from active duty on 13 March 1972. His award of the Bronze Star Medal is not reflected on his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge).
5. During the applicant’s initial tour of duty in Vietnam he would have participated in five designated campaign periods. During his second tour he would have participated in three campaigns. During the Vietnam War, campaign participation was reflected by award of bronze service stars (or a silver service star in lieu of five bronze service stars) on the Vietnam Service Medal.
6. A review of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) notes the applicant’s unit (86th Transportation Company) was awarded two Meritorious Unit Commendations during the applicant’s period of assignment. He is also entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The Board notes that there are no orders in the applicant's available records awarding him the Bronze Star Medal, however, his award certificate is signed by the appropriate Secretary of the Army, and the period of service covered by the award coincides with the applicant's dates of service in Vietnam. The fact that the certificate does reflect a different social security number than the one the applicant was using at the time of his separation may account for the absence of award orders and could explain the absence of the award on his separation document. In the absence of orders, or evidence to the contrary, the Board accepts the applicant’s award certificate as authentication of entitlement to the Bronze Star Medal and in the interest of justice concludes it would be appropriate to add the award to his separation document.
2. The evidence also confirms the applicant is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, two Meritorious Unit Commendations, and a silver service star and three bronze service stars on his Vietnam Service Medal.
3. 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 a Bronze Star Medal; and
b. by showing that he is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, two Meritorious Unit Commendations, and a silver service star and three bronze service stars on his Vietnam Service Medal.
BOARD VOTE:
__INW __ __MMD _ __JTM__ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
__Irene N. Wheelwright__
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2001066246 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020416 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | YYYYMMDD |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.00 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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