| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Deborah L. Brantley | Senior Analyst |
| Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr. | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Barbara J. Ellis | Member | |
| Ms. Karen A. Heinz | Member |
2. The applicant requests that his records be corrected to show that he was awarded the Purple Heart. He states that he sustained a puncture wound between his left thumb and forefinger while defending his forward fire base from enemy attack. He notes the incident took place in June 1971 and that he was never awarded the Purple Heart. The applicant states that he was offered the award but declined it. He now believes he should have accepted the award. He submits no evidence in support of his request.
3. Records available to the Board indicate the applicant was inducted and entered active duty on 28 July 1970. While undergoing training he qualified as an expert with the grenade and as a sharpshooter with the automatic rifle. He was awarded the appropriate badges and component bars. However, the badges were omitted from his separation document.
4. In March 1971 the applicant was assigned to Vietnam as a cannoneer and promoted to pay grade E-3. The applicant was initially assigned to the 6th Battalion, 27th Artillery but subsequently reassigned, in November 1971, to the 5th Battalion, 42nd Artillery. He returned to the United States in January 1972 and on 3 February 1972 was released from active duty with an honorable characterization of service.
5. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for wounds sustained as a result of hostile action. Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify that the wound was the result of hostile action, the wound must have required treatment by a medical officer, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.
6. There were no medical records available to the Board and the applicant's name is not among those listed as casualties during the Vietnam War. Item 40 (wounds) on his Department of the Army Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) is blank. A review of the historical files of the 6th Battalion, 27th Artillery also failed to confirm that the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action in June 1971.
7. Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides that the Army 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 Army 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. There is no evidence in the applicant's official military personnel file that his commander ever disqualified him for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal and no evidence of any misconduct or disciplinary actions, which would serve as a basis to deny him the award.
8. A review of Department of the Army Circular Pamphlet 672-3 shows that the applicant is entitled to two awards of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm as a result of his service with the 27th Artillery and 42nd Artillery.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. There is no evidence, and the applicant has not provided any, which confirms that he was wounded as a result of hostile action and as such, there is insufficient evidence to confirm entitlement to the Purple Heart.
2. The Board does note, however, that the applicant completed a qualifying period of service for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal on 3 February 1972. 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 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 28 July 1970 through 3 February 1972.
3. The Board notes that the applicant qualified as an expert with the grenade and as a sharpshooter with the automatic rifle and was awarded the appropriate badges and component bars. His records should be corrected accordingly.
4. The Board also notes that the applicant is entitled to two awards of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm based on his tour of duty in Vietnam.
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 him the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 28 July 1970 through 3 February 1972;
b. by showing that he qualified as an expert with the grenade and as a sharpshooter with the automatic rifle and was awarded the associated badges and component bars; and
c. by showing that he is entitled to two awards of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm.
2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
__RVO__ __BJE __ __KAH__ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2002070285 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20021024 |
| 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. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050000722C070206
There are no orders in the applicant’s service personnel record which show that he was awarded the Purple Heart and his DA Form 20 does not list the Purple Heart in Item 41 (Awards and Decorations). Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his military service records to show award of the Purple Heart. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding the applicant the Purple Heart for wounds...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002077682C070215
He also requests correction of his DD Form 214 to show the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation, the Good Conduct Medal, four awards of the Air Medal (correctly known as the Air Medal with Numeral "4"), two awards of the Army...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080002782
The applicant provides his DD Form 214; a proposed citation for the Meritorious Unit Commendation; a Standard Form (SF) 93 (Report of Medical History), dated 16 March 1972; four pages of extracts from his service medical records; a DA Form 8-274 (Medical Condition Physical Profile Record), dated 7 April 1969, and a DA Form 3349 (Medical Condition Physical Profile Record), dated 9 May 1969. There is no evidence of record to show the applicant was awarded an Artillery Medal. Evidence of...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140010701
c. Item 41 (Awards and Decorations) shows he was awarded the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-16) but does not list the Purple Heart, CIB, or any Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badges. The Board carefully considered the applicant's request for award of the Purple Heart and CIB, and correction of his DD Form 214 to show the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Pistol, Grenade, and Rocket Launcher Bars and various other awards to which he may be...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050001253C070206
The applicant's DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) issued at the time of his separation, shows in Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized), that he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 bronze service stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Expert Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar. His DA Form 20 does not show an entry in Item 40...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050001253C070206
The applicant's DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) issued at the time of his separation, shows in Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized), that he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 bronze service stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Expert Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar. Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140016629
General Orders (GO) Number 3, issued by Headquarters, 27th Surgical Hospital on 8 January 1970 awarded him the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 6 January 1970. His DD Form 214 also shows he was awarded or authorized the: * National Defense Service Medal * Vietnam Service Medal * Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device 1960 * Purple Heart 9. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: * awarding him the Army...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002072951C070403
Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as a result of hostile action. Furthermore, in consideration of the fact that his Vietnam tour was abbreviated because of wounds from hostile action and considering his period of service in Vietnam, he is entitled to two bronze service stars on his already awarded Vietnam Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation. That all of...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060013196
There are no orders in the applicants military service records which show that he was awarded the Purple Heart. The evidence of record shows that the applicant's high frequency hearing loss is documented in his military service records. Therefore, the Board requests that the CMSD-St. Louis administratively correct the records of the individual concerned to show award of the Vietnam Service Medal with 4 bronze service stars and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140013473
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows in: * item 31 (Foreign Service) he was credited with Vietnam service beginning on 10 November 1970 * item 38 (Record of Assignments) * he was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry, 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division, from 15 November 1970 through on or about 9 June 1971 * he was assigned as a patient...