| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Wanda L. Waller | Analyst |
| Mr. John N. Slone | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Elzey J. Arledge | Member | |
| Mr. Thomas Lanyi | Member |
2. The applicant requests, in effect, award of the Air Medal and three unspecified awards.
3. The applicant states, in effect, that when he left Vietnam in 1972 he was given the Air Medal and three ribbons (a red one with one bronze oak leaf cluster, a blue one with one bronze oak leaf cluster and a Vietnam ribbon with two bronze oak leaf clusters). He contends that these awards do not show up on his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty). In support of his application, he submits an undated letter of explanation; an eyewitness statement, dated
26 December 2001, from a retired Lieutenant General; an eyewitness statement, dated 15 August 2001, from a retired first sergeant; and an eyewitness statement, dated 1 August 2001, from a retired lieutenant colonel.
4. The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted on 11 January 1971. He served as an armor crewman in Vietnam from 21 August 1971 through
7 March 1972 and was honorably released on 29 January 1974.
5. The applicant’s DD Form 214, which was authenticated in his own hand, does not show the Air Medal as an authorized award.
6. The applicant’s DD Form 214 does show award of the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar, the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Pistol Bar and the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Hand Grenade Bar as authorized awards.
7. There are no orders for the Air Medal in the applicant’s service personnel records. There are no flight hours in the applicant’s service personnel records.
8. In support of his claim for award of the Air Medal, the applicant provided three eyewitness statements. He provided one statement, dated 26 December 2001, from a retired Lieutenant General who attests that the applicant should be awarded the Air Medal for his aerial exploits during combat in Vietnam from October 1971 to 1972 and states that “I commanded A/2/17 CAV [A Troop, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry] during that time frame and can attest to Mr. [the applicant’s last name] participation in aerial flight qualifying him for at least 3 Air Medals.” Two eyewitness statements, dated 15 August 2001 and 1 August 2001, from aerial rifle squad leaders at the time in question attest that the applicant served with the aerial rifle platoon, A Troop, 2/17th Cavalry Squadron from October 1971 to January 1972. They state that the aerial rifle platoon’s missions were reconnaissance, patrol, and bomb assessment; but the priority was rescue and extraction of shot down helicopter pilots. They also state that the applicant earned the Air Medal (well over 60 hours of combat aerial flight).
9. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) shows the applicant is entitled to award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation based on Department of the Army General Orders Number 8, dated 1974.
10. Review of the applicant’s records and Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) does not reveal entitlement to any additional awards.
11. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Air Medal is awarded in time of war for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service while participating in aerial flight. This award is primarily intended for personnel on flying status, but may also be awarded to those personnel whose combat duties require them to fly, for example personnel in the attack elements of units involved in air-land assaults against an armed enemy. As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.
12. U.S. Army Vietnam (USARV) Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) provided, in pertinent part, guidelines for award of the Air Medal. It established that passenger personnel who did not participate in an air assault were not eligible for the award based upon sustained operations. It defined terms and provided guidelines for the award based upon the number and types of missions or hours. Twenty-five Category I missions (air assault and equally dangerous missions) and accrual of a minimum of 25 hours of flight time while engaged in Category I missions was the standard established for which sustained operations were deemed worthy of recognition by an award of the Air Medal. However, the regulation was clear that these guidelines were considered only a departure point. Nothing created an entitlement to the award.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. There are no orders available to the Board which authorize award of the Air Medal to the applicant. However, the applicant has provided three eyewitness statements in support of his claim for award of the Air Medal. Upon review of these statements, and in accordance with U.S. Army Vietnam (USARV) Regulation 672-1, the Board concluded that it would be reasonable to assume that the applicant participated in at least twenty-five Category I missions during his assignment in Vietnam. Therefore, the Board determined that these eyewitness statements were sufficient as a basis for award of the basic Air Medal in this case.
2. The applicant’s unit received the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation. Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show this unit citation.
3. In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the basic Air Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.
2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
JNS___ EJA_____ TL______ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
__John N. Slone_________
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2002069731 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020625 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | (GRANT) |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0018 |
| 2. | 107.0094 |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090009376
There are no orders or other evidence in the applicant's military personnel records that shows he was awarded the Air Medal (18th through 20th oak leaf cluster). The applicant contends that his records should be corrected to show three additional awards of the Air Medal (i.e., Air Medal with 18th through 20th oak leaf cluster) because he completed 77 combat hours and 139 combat missions in the RVN from 6 August 1967 to 29 September 1967 subsequent to his 17th award of the Air Medal. As a...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090021270
Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 for the period ending on 4 April 1972 shows the Aviation Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Medal, Defense Distinguished Cross, Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart, Vietnam Campaign Medal with "1960" Device, and Bronze Star Medal. Therefore, he should receive 6 additional awards of the Air Medal based on his combat missions by subtracting 25 hours from his total...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2015 | 20150000981
The applicant provides: * Headquarters, U.S. Army Medical Command, Vietnam (Provisional), General Orders Number 805, dated 2 May 1970 * U.S. Army Vietnam (USARV) Form 157-R (Recommendation for Decoration for Valor or Merit) * DD Form 214 CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) currently prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards and states: a. a bronze service star is authorized with the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060015675
This document shows that the U.S. Army Reserve Component Personnel Administration Command, St. Louis, Missouri, authorized and issued the following awards to the applicant: Air Medal; Meritorious Unit Commendation with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal with 4 bronze service stars; Combat Medical Badge; Army Aviator Badge; Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Automatic Rifle, Rifle, and Pistol Bars; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with "1960...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110009580
His DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) for the period 10 April 1970 through 24 May 1970 shows in item 28 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) the: * National Defense Service Medal * Aircraft Crewman Badge * Senior Aircraft Mechanic Crewman Wings * Vietnam Service Medal * Vietnam Campaign Medal * Air Medal * Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Gold Star * Bronze Star Medal * Army Commendation Medal (3rd OLC) *...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080007070
The applicant provides a USARV Form 157-R, dated 28 March 1967; a statement from a fellow Soldier at the time in question; a copy of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge); a lieutenant colonels citation for the Air Medal with Numeral 4; a Troop E, 17th Cavalry killed in action list; an excerpt from Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) on the Air Medal; and page 3 of his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record). The USARV Form 157-R provided by the applicant, which shows...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090006356
The applicant provides, in support of his application, The Air Medal Citation, three DA Forms 759-1 (Individual Flight Record and Flight Certificate - Army), 1st Aviation Brigade Form 21 (Recommendation for Award of Oak Leaf Clusters to the Air Medal), and DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge). There are no orders or other evidence in the applicant's military personnel records that shows he was awarded more than one Air Medal. As a result, the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090019658
U.S. Army Vietnam Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) provided guidelines for the award of the Air Medal. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by permanently awarding him the Basic Aviation Badge. The Board also recommends item 24 of the applicant's DD Form 214 with an effective date of 1 December 1971 be amended to show he was awarded or is authorized the: * Basic Aviation Badge * Vietnam Service Medal...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001064335C070421
The applicant requests that his Report of Transfer or Discharge, DD Form 214, be amended to show he was awarded the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross, three Army Commendation Medals (ARCOMs) to include one for valor, five Bronze Star Medals (BSMs) to include one for valor, 40 Air Medals, the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), the Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC), and the Army Aviation Broken Wing Award. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 shows the 8 th Bn, 6 th Arty, 1 st ID was awarded the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100028031
7. Review of the Awards and Decorations Computer-Assisted Retrieval System (ADCARS), an index of general orders issued during the Vietnam era between 1965 and 1973 maintained by the Military Awards Branch of the United States Army Human Resources Command, failed to reveal any orders for the Silver Star, subsequent awards of the Air Medal, or the DFC or DFC with First Oak Leaf Cluster pertaining to the applicant. However, there are no orders for any subsequent awards of the Air Medal in the...