| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Deborah L. Brantley | Senior Analyst |
| Mr. Curtis L. Greenway | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Ernest W. Lutz, Jr. | Member | |
| Mr. Larry C. Bergquist | Member |
2. The applicant requests that his records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart. He states the award is missing from his separation document and wants the information added for "family purposes." In support of his request he submits a copy of his Purple Heart award certificate.
3. Records available to the Board indicate that the applicant enlisted and entered active duty on 9 October 1968. He completed training as an infantryman (MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) 11B) and in July 1969 was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry in Vietnam as a rifleman.
4. On 10 August 1969 he sustained multiple fragment wounds to both legs and was subsequently evacuated. The applicant's Purple Heart award certificate is dated 9 October 1969. Item 40 (wounds) on his Department of the Army Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) confirms the applicant's combat wound.
5. In 1982 the office of The Adjutant General confirmed the applicant's entitlement to the Purple Heart via a statement. There are, however, no orders confirming the award and the award is not reflected on his separation document.
6. Following the applicant's medical evacuation from Vietnam, he was returned to duty at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
7. As a result of a series of AWOL (absent without leave) periods, the applicant was ultimately discharged under conditions other than honorable on
29 December 1972. In 1980 his discharge was upgraded to under honorable conditions as a result of action by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records. When his separation document was re-issued, it still did not show entitlement to the Purple Heart.
8. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is awarded to infantry officers and to enlisted and warrant officer personnel who have an infantry MOS. They must have served in active ground combat while assigned or attached to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental or smaller size. The Awards Branch of the Total Army Personnel Command has advised, in similar cases, that during the Vietnam era the CIB was awarded only to enlisted individuals who held and served in MOS 11B, 11C, 11F, 11G, or 11H.
9. 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. Qualifying service included assignment in Vietnam for 6 months or service outside the geographical limits of the Republic of Vietnam that contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam and its Armed Forces. Individuals who had qualified for award of the Vietnam Service Medal or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and were evacuated prior to completing six months of service due to wounds resulting from hostile action were entitled to award of the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
10. A review of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 indicates that the applicant's unit (4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry) participated in one designated campaign period (Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969) while he was a member of the organization. His campaign participation should be reflected with the addition of one bronze service star to the Vietnam Service Medal which is reflected on his separation document. The pamphlet also indicates that the applicant's unit was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation while the applicant was assigned. The unit awards were also omitted from his separation document.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The evidence confirms that the applicant was wounded in action on 10 August 1969 and awarded the Purple Heart. His records should be corrected to reflect that decoration.
2. The evidence also confirms that the applicant met the qualification requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. His records should be corrected accordingly.
3. The applicant is also entitled to one bronze service star on his Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation. That information should also be added to his separation document.
4. In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:
a. by confirming that the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart;
b. by awarding him the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Vietnam Campaign Medal; and
c. by showing that he is entitled to one bronze service star on his Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation.
BOARD VOTE:
__CLG __ __EWL __ __LCB__ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
___Curtis L. Greenway____
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2003089749 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20031030 |
| 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 | 20050015877C070206
While the applicant’s combat wound to his thumb is well documented in available records, there is no medical evidence, nor has the applicant provided any which confirms he was wounded a second time while in Vietnam. Evidence shows that the applicant’s records contain administrative error which does not require action by the Board. ____ Jeanette McCants______ CHAIRPERSON INDEX |CASE ID |AR20050015877 | |SUFFIX | | |RECON |YYYYMMDD | |DATE BOARDED |20060824 | |TYPE OF DISCHARGE |(HD, GD,...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003090112C070212
The certificate indicates that the award of the Purple Heart is made for wounds received in action on 27 December 1967 in the Republic of Vietnam. This document also shows that the unit the applicant served with in Vietnam, Company A, 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, with Palm, Unit Citation, for the period 5 May 1965 through 26 September 1970, by DAGO 51, dated 1971; and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100009052
Based on his combat service in the Republic of Vietnam and subsequent award of the Purple Heart for combat wounds, it appears reasonable to believe that the applicant, who served in MOS 11B1P and in an infantry unit, was actively engaged with enemy ground forces when he encountered an enemy booby trap. General orders announced award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation for the 2nd...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002068804C070402
The applicant requests, in effect, that his records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star Medal, the appropriate number of "campaign stars" on his Vietnam Service Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, and an undefined "V" award. There is no evidence, and the applicant has not provided any, that he was ever recommended for, or awarded a Bronze Star Medal. The Board notes that the Combat Action Ribbon is a Navy/Marine Corps award and as such,...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110016043
Army Regulation 672-5-1 (Military Awards), in effect at the time, provided that the Army Good Conduct Medal was awarded to individuals who completed a qualified period of active duty enlisted service. Therefore, it would be appropriate to award him the first award of the Army Good Conduct Medal based on completion of a qualifying period of Federal military service and correct his records to show this award. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002072925C070403
Since the record is also devoid of any evidence of disciplinary action taken against him, it would appear that the absence of the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period of his service from 13 October 1967 through 26 March 1970 was an oversight and he is entitled to its award and to a correction of his records to show this award. The record further shows that the applicant served in an infantry MOS (11B) and was wounded while engaged in active ground combat while assigned to an infantry unit...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002077302C070215
The applicant requests that his records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman Badge. The Board is also satisfied that the applicant met the requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. He was awarded the associated badges and component bars and his records should be corrected accordingly.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080010392
In Vietnam, regulations provided that wounded Soldiers who were treated and returned to their units within 24 hours of being wounded would be awarded the Purple Heart by their unit of assignment. He was treated in military hospitals in Vietnam and in the United States; his name appears on the Vietnam Casualty Roster; his wound is documented on his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record); and he has a Purple Heart Certificate which was filed with the State of Idaho Division of Veterans...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100000430
Army Regulation 600-8-22 states that the Korea Defense Service Medal is authorized for award to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served on active duty in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea. The evidence shows the applicant was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal and that he was evacuated from Vietnam prior to completing 6 months of service due to receiving wounds as a result of hostile action. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130003526
The evidence of record confirms the FSM received "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings throughout most of his active duty service and his record is void of any derogatory information or a commander's disqualification that would have precluded him from being recommended for or awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal. Therefore, it would be appropriate at this time to award him the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) for the period 9 April 1968 to 22 September 1969 and to add this award to...