| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Beverly A. Young | Analyst |
| Ms. Karol A. Kennedy | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Melvin H. Meyer | Member | |
| Ms. Tracey Pinson | Member |
2. The applicant requests that award of the Combat Medical Badge be added to his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge).
3. The applicant states that he was assigned as a medic, along with four other Americans, to an infantry unit south of Can Tho, Vietnam. In support of his application, he submitted a copy of his DD Form 214, a DA Form 137 (Installation Clearance Record), and his reassignment orders.
4. The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted in the Army on 18 March 1968. He successfully completed basic and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupational specialty 91B (medical specialist). He served in Vietnam from 26 August 1968 through 23 August 1969 and was honorably released from active duty on 17 March 1970.
5. The applicant's DD Form 214 does not show the Combat Medical Badge as an authorized award.
6. There are no orders which show the applicant was awarded the Combat Medical Badge.
7. The applicant's DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he served as a Medical Advisor with Advisory Team 57, Fourth Combat Tactical Zone, United States Military Assistance Command during his tour in Vietnam. There is no evidence which shows he was assigned to a medical unit organic to an infantry brigade or a Vietnamese unit during active ground combat.
8. Review of the applicant's personnel records revealed that he is entitled to award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars and the Good Conduct Medal which are not shown on his discharge document.
9. The applicant was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation based on Headquarters Department of the Army General Orders Number 8, dated 1974.
10. The applicant's DD Form 214 shows entitlement to the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars. Appendix B of Army Regulation 600-8-22 lists, in pertinent part, the military campaigns of the Vietnam War. Based on the applicant’s dates of service in Vietnam, Appendix B shows that he participated in four campaigns of the Vietnam War.
11. The applicant's personnel records contain Headquarters 7th Infantry Brigade General Orders Number 20, dated 13 February 1970, which awarded him the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 18 March 1968 to 17 March 1970.
12. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Medical Badge is awarded to medical department personnel (colonel and below) who are assigned or attached to a medical unit of company or smaller size that is organic to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental or smaller size which is engaged in active ground combat. Battle participation credit is not sufficient; the infantry unit must have been in contact with the enemy and the soldier must have been personally present and under fire during such ground combat. This regulation also stated special provisions for award of the Combat Medical Badge during the Vietnam conflict. These provisions permitted award of the Combat Medical Badge to soldiers assigned to a Vietnamese unit engaged in actual ground combat or as a member of U.S. Army infantry unit of brigade or smaller size including Special Forces Detachments serving with the Republic of Vietnam units engaged in actual ground combat. The special provisions required that the soldier must have been personally present and under hostile fire while assigned as specified.
13. Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, authorizes award of a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation and states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate service medal.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The Board considered the applicant's contention that he was assigned as a medic in an infantry unit south of Can Tho, Vietnam.
2. Evidence of record shows the applicant served as a Medical Advisor with Advisory Team 57, Fourth Combat Tactical Zone, United States Military Assistance Command during his tour in Vietnam. There is no evidence available to the Board which shows he was assigned to a medical unit organic to an infantry brigade or to a Vietnamese unit during ground combat and was personally under hostile fire. Therefore, there is no basis for awarding the Combat Medical Badge in this case.
3. Orders show the applicant was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation. Therefore, his records will be amended to show this foreign unit award.
4. The applicant's DD Form 214 shows the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars. However, evidence of record shows the applicant participated in four campaigns during his assignment in Vietnam which are not correctly shown by award of four bronze service stars for wear on his Vietnam Service Medal. Therefore, in accordance with the governing regulation, the applicant is entitled to the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars and correction of his records to show these awards.
5. Evidence of record shows the applicant was awarded the Good Conduct Medal for the period 18 March 1968 to 17 March 1970. Therefore, his records will be amended to show the first award of the Good Conduct Medal.
6. 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:
a. by deleting the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars from item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) on the DD Form 214 of the individual concerned; and
b. by adding award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars and the Good Conduct Medal to his DD Form 214.
2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
KAK____ MHM____ TLP_____ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
Karol A. Kennedy______
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2002077974 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20030128 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | YYYYMMDD |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT IN PART |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | Mr. Schneider |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0113 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100009802
This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicants failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. The applicant was assigned to a unit during a period of time that the unit was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 040006687C070208
The applicant requests that his record be corrected to show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). The Soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and must actively participate in such ground combat. One of the applicant’s efficiency reports indicate that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, although there is no evidence to show that award.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 2004102661C070208
The applicant requests, in effect, that his separation document be corrected to show the four Bronze Star Medals, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Army Commendation Medal, that he earned. DA Pamphlet 672-3, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 29 January 1988, which lists unit awards received by units serving in Vietnam, shows that the unit the applicant was assigned to during his first tour of duty in Vietnam: Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050016759C070206
The applicant requests, in effect, that his records be corrected to show all of his authorized awards for his period of service in Vietnam. Counsel requests that the applicant's records be corrected to include all of the awards to which he is entitled, specifically the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with “1960” Device, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. However, the regulation also states that in the case of duplicate awards covering the same period of time...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060007988C070205
There are no orders in the applicant’s military service records which show that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. The evidence of record shows that the applicant held an infantry MOS and was assigned to an infantry unit in Vietnam. The evidence of record shows that the applicant served a qualifying period of service in Vietnam to qualify for award of the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002067297C070402
The applicant requests that his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected to reflect award of the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, two Bronze Star Medals with "V" device, three Purple Hearts, the Army Commendation Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with oak leaf clusters (properly three bronze service stars), the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Combat Medical Badge, the Presidential Unit Citation, and a individual Presidential Citation. In view of the foregoing...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060001091C070205
The applicant adds that he was also awarded the Army Commendation Medal while serving in an infantry unit in Vietnam from February 1969 to July 1969. To be entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the evidence must show that an applicant held and served in an infantry MOS while assigned or attached to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental or smaller size, and must have served in active ground combat while assigned or attached to this infantry unit. As a result, the Board...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 2004100100C070208
There is no evidence in the available records which shows that the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart or was wounded as a result of hostile action in Vietnam. There is no evidence of record which shows the applicant served in an infantry MOS or served in active ground combat while an assigned member of an infantry unit of brigade or smaller size in Vietnam. Evidence shows that the applicant’s records contain administrative errors which do not require action by the Board.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080018853
The applicant's service records are not available. Records show the applicant was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding him the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in action on 20 May 1967 and awarding him the Combat Infantryman Badge; b. amending his DD Form 214 by deleting the Vietnam Service Medal and the Overseas Service Bar from block 24; and c. amending his DD...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070009362
The applicant requests that his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) with a separation date of 15 July 1969, be corrected to show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and the Bronze Star Medal (BSM). There are no orders in the applicants service personnel records which show that he was awarded the CIB. The applicant's military service records do not contain orders for the award of the Army Good Conduct Medal.