| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. W. W. Osborn, Jr. | Analyst |
| Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr. | Chairperson | |
| Mr. James E. Anderholm | Member | |
| Ms. Linda M. Barker | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: In effect, correction of his military awards to show he was awarded or authorized the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), the Air Medal with numeral 11, and the Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM). His request for award of the National Defense Service Medal has been administratively accomplished.
APPLICANT STATES: In effect, that during his 1965 tour in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN), while serving as the interpreter for a Civil Affairs Team, he was involved in a fire fight at a Special Forces A Camp, which he believes entitles him to the CIB. He also relates that his duties during his 1970-71 tour in Vietnam required that he visit all the batteries in the battalion. This could only be accomplished by helicopter. He kept a log of his flight time and had amassed over 500 hours. His records were turned over to the Personnel Service Company with the assurance that the proper awards would be forthcoming.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records show:
He enlisted in 1957 and served on continuous active duty. On 1 June 1978, he retired as a sergeant first class (E-7) with 20 years and 7 days of service.
His final DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) as modified by a 2 January 2001 DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214) shows that his authorized awards consisted of the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, the Good Conduct Medal 6th Award, the Vietnam Service Medal with one silver service star, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Valorous Unit Award, the Navy Unit Commendation, the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, the RVN Staff Service Honor Medal 2nd Class, the RVN Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, the Driver and Mechanic Badge with Driver Bar.
Army Regulation 600-8-22 prescribes Army policy and procedures concerning awards. Paragraph 8-6 provides for award of the CIB. There are basically three requirements for award of the CIB. The soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, he must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and he must actively participate in such ground combat. Specific requirements state, in effect, that an Army enlisted soldier must be have an infantry or special forces specialty, satisfactorily performed duty while assigned or attached as a member of an infantry, ranger or special forces unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size during any period such unit was engaged in active ground combat. Eligibility for special forces personnel (less the special forces medical sergeant) accrues from 20 December 1989. Retroactive awards for special forces personnel are not authorized.
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. There was no provision for making the award simply because an aircraft was struck by enemy fire.
The KDSM was just recently approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2003 Defense Authorization Act, and it has not yet been designed or funded. The instructions for issuance and wear of this award also have not been completed. The agency responsible for completing these actions estimates that it could take up to one year before those eligible for this award will begin to receive it. Once it is ready for issue, the Army will publicize information regarding how to request it and how it will be issued. Specific instructions will appear on the Internet, in official publications, and in the magazines published by veteran service organizations.
DISCUSSION: Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:
1. The Board notes the applicant request that his record be corrected to show award of the KDSM. However, it is unable to act on this request at this time. The KDSM was just recently approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2003 Defense Authorization Act, and it has not yet been designed or funded. The responsible agency anticipates it could take up to a year for those who are eligible to begin to receive the award. The applicant is advised to wait until the Army publicizes instructions regarding how the KDSM should be requested and how it will be issued, before he submits an application to this Board requesting his record be corrected by adding this award.
2. By his own description the applicant was not an infantryman attached to an infantry unit of brigade or smaller size. He was not eligible for award of the CIB.
3. The USARV regulation clearly stated that the Air Medal was not awarded to aircraft passenger personnel. Although this provision may not have been strictly applied by commanders who had authority to award the Air Medal, it is the policy of this Board to not recommend subsequent awards of the Air Medal without convincing evidence that such action is appropriate.
4. In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.
DETERMINATION: The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
__RVO__ ___JEA _ __LMB___ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20030814 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | DENY |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.00 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001065089C070421
The applicant requests, in effect, this military records be corrected to show that he was awarded the Purple Heart (PH), Air Medal (AM), and Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). United States Army Vietnam (USARV) Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) provided guidelines for award of the AM. The evidence of record does not show that the applicant was wounded or injured in action or that he was ever awarded the PH and the applicant has failed to provide evidence that supports his claim of...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080002652
The applicant's Military Personnel Records Jacket (MPRJ) contains no orders or other documents that show the applicant was ever awarded, held, or served in an infantry MOS, or that he was awarded the CIB or AM by proper authority while serving in the RVN. The evidence of record also fails to show that the applicant served as a crewmember or non-crewmember on flight status during his tenure of assignment in the RVN, or that he completed the number of air missions necessary to qualify for...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090013345
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). It allows, in effect, that upon the request of a Member of Congress, the Secretary concerned shall review a proposal for the award or presentation of a decoration (or the upgrading of a decoration), either for an individual or a unit, that is not otherwise authorized to be presented or awarded due to limitations established by law or policy for timely submission of a recommendation for such award or...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | AR20140009245
The applicant requests award of the Air Medal. The applicant provides copies of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge), an email message from a retired colonel, his promotion orders to specialist four (E-4), Daily Staff Journals for November 1968 and 29 December 1967, and an air assault summary matrices for July through December 1967 (less November). Awarding him the Air Medal for achievement on 29 December 1967; b. correcting his DD Form 214 by deleting the Vietnam Service...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003090889C070212
Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy and criteria concerning individual military awards. United States Army Vietnam (USARV) Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) provided, in pertinent part, guidelines for award of the Air Medal (AM). Thus, the Board finds no basis for adding it to the applicant’s DD Form 214 at this time.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100027655
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show, in effect, he: a. completed the Infantry Leaders Course Phase I and II; b. was authorized award of the Purple Heart (PH), Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), Air Medal (AM), Bronze Star Medal (BSM), and Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation; and c....
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110002617
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). U.S. Army Vietnam (USARV) Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) provided guidelines for 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 amending item 24 of his DD Form 214 by: a. deleting the current VSM and ARCOM entries and b. adding the Vietnam Service Medal with 4 bronze service stars, Army...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001059422C070421
United States Army Vietnam (USARV) Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) provided, in pertinent part, guidelines for award of the Air Medal (AM). Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, for award of the Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM). The Government of Vietnam awarded this medal to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States for qualifying service in Vietnam during the period 1 March 1961 through 28 March 1973.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070018553
The applicant requests that his records be corrected to show the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). Therefore, he is not entitled to correction of his records to show 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 showing the awards of the CIB, Army Good Conduct Medal first award for the period 4 February 1969 to 3 February 1971, Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, First...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080007660
The applicant requests correction of his military records to show that he was awarded the Air Medal and the Bronze Star Medal (BSM). The applicants contention that he should be awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on his award of the Combat Infantryman Badge is without merit. The applicants contention that he should be awarded the Air Medal based on his being transported, as a passenger, via helicopter to each of his missions is not supported by any evidence of record.