| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Deborah L. Brantley | Senior Analyst |
| Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr. | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Raymond J. Wagner | Member | |
| Ms. Karen Y. Fletcher | Member |
2. The applicant requests reconsideration of his previous request for award of a second Purple Heart. The applicant also requests award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, which was not requested in his original application to the Board. The applicant states, in effect, that he should have received a second Purple Heart for wounds sustained on 1 February 1969. He submits a copy of his Bronze Star Medal with "V" device narrative citation, which indicates that he "was painfully wounded by flying shrapnel…." The citation was included with the applicant's original application to the Board. He submits no new evidence in support of his request for award of the Purple Heart and no evidence to support award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.
3. Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in a memorandum prepared to reflect the Board's original consideration of his case (AR1999034193) on 3 August 2000.
4. The applicant's primary military specialty was 76Y (Unit and Organization Supply Specialist), which was awarded to him in July 1968 upon completion of training. Although his records indicate that he performed duties as a personnel specialist (71H) while at Fort Hood, Texas, he was assigned duties as a supply specialist (76Y) while assigned to an infantry element in Vietnam between September 1968 and August 1969.
5. There are basically three requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. The soldier must be an infantryman (11 series specialty), assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and must have actively participated in such ground combat.
6. The applicant's conduct and efficiency ratings were excellent throughout the duration of his military service and he was promoted to pay grade E-4 in February 1969. His records do not contain any evidence of misconduct or disciplinary problems. There is, however, no indication he was ever awarded an Army Good Conduct Medal.
7. Army Regulation 600-8-10 provides that the 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. This period is 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the termination of a period of Federal military service. Although there is no automatic entitlement to the Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified. Current practice requires that the commander provide written notice of nonfavorable consideration and permits the individual to respond.
8. By virtue of the applicant's assignment in Vietnam he is also entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation, and four bronze service stars on his Vietnam Service Medal. His records already reflect the Vietnam Service Medal but the bronze service stars, denoting participation in four designated campaign periods (Vietnam Counteroffensive-Phase V and VI, Tet 69 Counteroffensive-1969 and Vietnam Summer-Fall-1969) were omitted.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicant has provided no new evidence which would serve as a basis to overturn the Board's original determination concerning award of the Purple Heart.
2. There is no evidence the applicant held an infantry specialty while assigned to Vietnam and as such, he would not meet eligibility requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. The Board notes that all soldiers are provided basic combat skills training after they enter the Army. This is provided to insure that all soldiers have the survival skills to perform basic infantry missions when the need arises. The exigencies of combat may require non-infantry soldiers to temporarily perform the basic infantry duties that all soldiers are taught but it is not a basis for the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.
3. The applicant completed a qualifying period of service for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal on 27 August 1969. There is no evidence his commander ever disqualified him from receiving the award and no evidence of any misconduct which would justify denying him the award. In view of the foregoing, the Board concludes that the applicant met the basic qualifications for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal and it would be appropriate and in the interest of equity to award him that decoration for the period 10 January 1968 through
27 August 1969.
4. The Board also notes that the applicant is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation, and four bronze service stars on his Vietnam Service Medal. His records should be corrected accordingly.
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:
a. by awarding the individual concerned the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 10 January 1968 through 27 August 1969; and
b. by showing that he is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation, and four bronze service stars on his Vietnam Service Medal.
2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
__RVO__ __RJW__ __KYF___ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2002069601 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020926 |
| 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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There are no orders available to the Board which authorize award of the Purple Heart to the applicant. Based on paragraph 6, above, the applicant is entitled to award of the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and correction of his records to show this award. b. by showing he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002075763C070403
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ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002076629C070215
The evidence also indicates that the applicant was wounded on 25 February 1969, 15 March 1969, and 19 June 1969. As such, the Board concludes that the applicant's records should be corrected to reflect award of five Purple Hearts (25 February, 15 March, 23 March, 19 May, and 19 June 1969). The applicant completed a qualifying period of service for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal on 24 June 1970.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002076449C070215
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ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002077081C070215
PROCEEDINGS BOARD DATE: 07 NOVEMBER 2002 DOCKET NUMBER: AR2002077081 The applicant made no statement but provided a copy of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) and a copy of an official statement from the Office of The Adjutant General furnished on 22 November 1978, which attests to the applicant being wounded in action on 20 August 1968, entitling him to award of the Purple Heart. The applicant’s military records show that the applicant was inducted into the Army on 4...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003091367C070212
The applicant requests that his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) show that he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device, and the Army Commendation Medal. The dates on the certificate showing award of the Army Commendation Medal were apparently prepared based on an assumption by administrative personnel that he served a one-year tour of duty in Vietnam. The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003089065C070403
The applicant requests correction of his records to show two awards of the Purple Heart, award of the Bronze Star Medal with “V” Device, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation and the Presidential Unit Citation. The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show the award of the Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, or...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002071940C070403
His DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge), signed by the applicant, reflects that he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal (but does not reflect the award of the "V" device and 1 st oak leaf cluster), the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with device (1960), and the Sharpshooter (M-16 Rifle). The evidence of record shows that the applicant is entitled to the Purple Heart by virtue of...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002071832C070403
Also present are orders awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 19 January 1966 through 24 January 1967 and General Order 2461, issued by the 25 th Infantry Division on 2 April 1968, awarding the applicant the Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) provides, in pertinent part, that the 2 nd Battalion, 27 th Infantry, was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit...
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