| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Gale J. Thomas | Analyst |
| Mr. Fred N. Eichorn | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Melvin H. Meyer | Member | |
| Ms. Karen A. Heinz | Member |
2. The applicant requests that his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected to show the award of three Purple Hearts, two Bronze Star Medals with “V” device, and an Army Commendation Medal for Valor.
3. The applicant states that the awards were left off his DD Form 214, and that the Army Commendation Medal that is on his DD Form 214 should be for Valor. He feels that he fully deserves to have the awards added to his DD From 214 due to his being wounded in defense of his country, and the fact that they were indeed awarded to him. In support of his request the applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214, and copies of orders for the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal for Heroism.
4. The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 12 September 1966, for a period of three years. He served in Vietnam from December 1967 to November 1968.
5. General Orders 40, dated 25 February 1968, awarded the applicant the Purple Heart for wounds he received on 24 February 1968.
6. Orders issued by the 3rd Field Hospital on 27 September 1968, awarded the applicant the Purple Heart (Second Award) for wounds he received on 26 September 1968.
7. Orders issued by the 9th Infantry Division on 10 November 1968 awarded the applicant the Purple Heart (First Oat Leaf Cluster) for wounds he received on
25 September 1968.
8. The applicant’s records contain a 13 October 1980 letter, from the applicant to the National Personnel Records Center, wherein he states that he was wounded twice while in Vietnam, once in February 1968 and again in September 1968. He makes no mention of being wounded a third time.
9. The applicant was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for valor as a result of his heroic actions on 19 March 1968. His records however, contain two different orders awarding him this same decoration. Both orders were issued by the 9th Infantry Division, one on 5 June 1968, and the other on 17 June 1968. His separation document does not reflect a Bronze Star Medal with “V” device.
10. Orders also confirm the applicant was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, for the period 31 January 1968 to 13 August 1968, for achievement in connection with military operations in the Republic of Vietnam. His separation document should reflect award of the Army Commendation Award.
11. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Army Commendation Medal may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service. As with all
personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.
12. A review of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 notes that the applicant’s unit (Company E, 3rd Battalion, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division) was awarded a Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, the Valorous Unit Award, and participated in five designated campaign periods (Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase III, Phase IV, Phase V, and Phase VI, and the TET Counteroffensive) while he was a member of the organization. The unit awards, and a silver service star on his Vietnam Service Medal, denoting his campaign participation were omitted from his separation document.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. Evidence shows the applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device for military actions on 19 March 1968, and as such it would be appropriate to correct his records to show award of one Bronze Star Medal with “V” device. Although there are two different orders in the applicant’s records they were both issued for the same decoration. There is no evidence to confirm a second award.
2. Evidence shows that the applicant is entitled to two Purple Heart awards for being wounded twice in the Republic of Vietnam. He was wounded the first time in February 1968, and a second time in September 1968, as attested to by a statement from the applicant to the National Records Center. His records should be corrected to show these awards. It appears the applicant’s award of the second Purple Heart was issued by the 3rd Field Hospital on 27 September 1968 and then again by the 9th Infantry Division of 10 November 1968. There is no evidence in the available records to show the applicant was wounded a third time.
3. The applicant’s DD Form 214 correctly reflects his award of the Army Commendation Medal. There is no evidence in the available records to substantiate his claim that it was awarded for valor.
4. The Board also notes that the applicant is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with palm, and a silver service star on his Vietnam Service Medal to denote his participation in five campaign periods.
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 showing the applicant was awarded two Purple Hearts, and the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device; and
b. by awarding him the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with palm, and a silver service star on his Vietnam Service Medal.
2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
__FNE __ __MHM _ __KAH _ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
____Fred N. Eichorn_____
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2003086762 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20030916 |
| 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 | CY2010 | 20100000425
Army Regulation 672-5-1 (Military Awards), in effect at the time, provides that the Army Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who have completed a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service. The document provided clearly identifies the applicant and shows he was treated for a shrapnel wound that he received from a booby trap on 12 July 1968. c. Despite the absence of any additional evidence in the applicant's military personnel records, it is concluded that the available...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110022549
IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 24 May 2012 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20110022549 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant provided general orders awarding him one AM; therefore, he is entitled to have the AM added to his DD Form 214. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: * deleting the following awards from his DD Form 214 * VSM * "ACM W/V Dvc" * "VN Unit Cit" * adding the following awards to his DD...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090020046
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show three awards of the Purple Heart and one award of the Army Commendation Medal. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) shows that, at the time of the applicants assignment to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Artillery, 9th Infantry Division, this unit was cited for the following four awards: * Valorous Unit Award for...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 2004101793C070208
There are no orders in the applicant's service personnel records to show that he was awarded the Purple Heart. 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, Company A, 15th Engineer Battalion, 9th Infantry Division, was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, with Palm, Unit Citation, for the period 1 July through 13...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060011421
The applicant requests, in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show three awards of the Bronze Star Medal (one award for service and two awards for valor) (correctly known as the Bronze Star Medal with V Device with Second Oak Leaf Cluster), the Air Medal, the Purple Heart, four awards of the Army Commendation Medal with V Device (correctly known as the Army Commendation Medal with V Device with Third Oak Leaf Cluster), the Silver Star, the Combat...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090005086
General orders awarded the applicant the Purple Heart for wounds received in action by a hostile force on 27 April 1968 which is not shown on his DD Form 214; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show this award. The evidence of record shows 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 the applicant the Good Conduct Medal (1st...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090018769
The applicant served in Vietnam from 12 January 1968 to 11 March 1969. Based on the applicant's service in Vietnam, he is entitled to the Valorous Unit Award with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, and one silver and one bronze service star to be affixed to his already authorized Vietnam Service Medal. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090009660
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 applicants DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) provides documentation of the following: a. advancement to specialist four on 11 February 1968; b. award of the military occupational specialties 11B on 1 September 1967 and 67A...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130017020
IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 29 May 2014 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20130017020 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Vietnam Service 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. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by adding the following awards to his DD Form 214: *...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140018137
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) for the period ending 18 September 1970 to show award of the Purple Heart. His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows in: * item 40 (Wounds) no injuries or wounds * item 41 (Awards and Decorations) * National Defense Service Medal * Vietnam Service Medal * Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960) * Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device * Army...