| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Luis Almodova | Analyst |
| Mr. John N. Slone | Chairperson | ||
| Mr. Thomas D. Howard | Member | ||
| Mr. Thomas Lanyi | Member |
2. The applicant requests, in effect, that he be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal.
3. The applicant states, in effect, that he was a medical specialist with an artillery unit attached to the 1st Cavalry Division from August 1965 to 18 or 19 November 1965 and for some reason the Vietnam Service Medal does not appear on his DD Form 214, Report of Transfer or Discharge.
4. The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 21 November 1963. He completed basic combat training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and advanced individual training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Upon completion of all required training, he was awarded the military occupational specialty, 91A (Medical Corpsman).
5. He was assigned to Headquarters Battery, 2nd Howitzer Battalion, 17th Artillery, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as his first duty station, on 5 April 1964.
6. The applicant was assigned to Vietnam with his unit as part of a unit move and arrived there on 17 August 1965. The applicant served with that unit until 18 November 1965 when he was returned to the United States for release from active duty.
7. While with Headquarters Battery, 2nd Howitzer Battalion, 17th Artillery, the applicant participated with his unit in the Vietnam Defense Campaign, which extended from 8 March through 24 December 1965.
8. The applicant was honorably released from active duty on 22 November 1965 under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200 in the rank and pay grade of Specialist Four, E-4, with 2 years and 2 days active Federal service.
9. Block 26 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal (First Award) and the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar.
10. Army Regulation (AR) 600-8-22 sets forth Department of the Army criteria, policy and instructions concerning individual military awards, the Good Conduct Medal, service medals and service ribbons, combat and special skill badges and tabs, unit decorations, and trophies and similar devices awarded in recognition of accomplishments.
11. The above regulation provides, in pertinent part, that the National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service for any period between 27 July 1950 through 27 July 1954, 1 January 1961 through 14 August 1974, and 2 August 1990 through 30 November 1995.
12. The same regulation provides, in pertinent part, for award of the Vietnam Service Medal. This medal is awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States for qualifying service in Vietnam after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973. Qualifying service included attachment to or assignment for 1 or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations.
13. The regulation also provides, in pertinent part, for award of a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in its Appendix B and states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate service medal, in this case, the Vietnam Service Medal.
14. According to 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, the unit to which the applicant was assigned during his tour of duty in Vietnam, Headquarters Battery, 2nd Howitzer Battalion, 17th Artillery, was cited for award of the Presidential Unit Citation for the period 23 October 1965 through 26 November 1965 by Department of the Army General Orders (DAGO) Number 40, dated 1967, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Unit Citation, for the period 1 August 1965 through 16 April 1971 by DAGO Number 54, dated 1974. The applicant was assigned to the unit at the time the unit was cited for these awards.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicant's contentions have merit. He served in Vietnam more than one day and is therefore entitled to award of the Vietnam Service Medal.
2. The applicant participated in one campaign with his unit while he served in Vietnam. He is therefore entitled to award of one bronze service star to be affixed to his Vietnam Service Medal.
3. The applicant is entitled to award of the National Defense Service Medal for his honorable active service from 21 November 1963 through 22 November 1965. This award should be added to his DD Form 214 at this time.
4. The applicant served in a unit during his tour of duty in Vietnam that was cited for award of the Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Unit Citation. He is therefore entitled to have these unit awards added to his DD Forms 214.
5. In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
That all Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the applicant the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze service star, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Unit Citation, and that these awards be added to his DD Form 214.
BOARD VOTE:
__tdh____ ___js ___ ___tl____ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
_____John N. Slone______
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2003086487 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 2003/07/22 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. 46 | 107.0000 |
| 2. 119 | 107.0073/VNSM |
| 3. 115 | 107.0069/NDSM |
| 4. 77 | 107.0031/PUC |
| 5. 140 | 107.0094/RVNGC |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003088017C070403
Counsel for the applicant echoes the applicant's request and in addition asks that the Vietnam Service Medal also be awarded and added to the applicant's DD Form 214. The applicant's DD Form 214 does not show this unit award as an authorized award. a. awarding the applicant the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm; and 2 Overseas Service Bars and adding these awards to...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140003860
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show his foreign service in Vietnam and any awards and decorations to which he may be entitled for this service. The applicant states, in effect: * he wants his active duty service in Vietnam from August 1965 to November 1965 shown on his DD Form 214 * he never received the appropriate medals for his foreign service 3. The applicant's DA Form 20 shows he served in...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2015 | 20150004216
The applicant requests his DD Form 214 be corrected to reflect all awards and decorations for which he was authorized for his Vietnam service, specifically a Presidential Unit Citation and Combat Action Badge. Additionally, his records show he has qualifying service for three campaigns, although his DD Form 214 only shows one bronze service star, and he is authorized the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation. Deleting the Vietnam Service Medal with bronze service...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130017988
The applicant requests award of the Army Good Conduct Medal and correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show the following awards: * Army Good Conduct Medal * two bronze service stars to be affixed to his previously-awarded Vietnam Service Medal * Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation * Presidential Unit Citation * Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Mortar Bar * Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rocket...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140001418
His records contain General Orders (GO) Number 28, issued by Headquarters, 54th Field Artillery Group, on 15 June 1969, awarding him the Purple Heart for wounds received in action in Vietnam on 18 May 1969. GO awarded him the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 18 May 1969, and he states he was awarded the Purple Heart for his June 1969 wounds. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. deleting from...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120020721
On 8 January 1991, he was issued a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) that amended his DD Form 214 as follows: * deleted from item 26 the Vietnam Service Medal and added the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze service star, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, and the Air Medal with Numeral 2 * added to item 28, the entry 54th Transportation Company,...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110012354
His 30 November 1985 DD Form 214 does not show an entry for any Overseas Service Bars. c. Therefore, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant's 29 May 1978 DD Form 214 to show 5 Overseas Service Bars. There is no evidence of record that shows the applicant's unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090021947
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). The applicant requests that his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected by awarding him the Purple Heart, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, and any other authorized unit awards. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050001626C070206
The applicant requests, in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two or 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 Presidential Unit Citation, the Valorous Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the Purple Heart. This document shows the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050001626C070206
The applicant requests, in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two or 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 Presidential Unit Citation, the Valorous Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the Purple Heart. This document shows the...