| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Jessie B. Strickland | Analyst |
| Mr. Melvin H. Meyer | Chairperson | ||
| Mr. William D. Powers | Member | ||
| Mr. Frank C. Jones | Member |
2. The applicant requests that his award of the Purple Heart be added to his report of separation (DD Form 214).
3. The applicant states that he was awarded the Purple Heart for shrapnel wounds in Vietnam; however, it was never added to his DD Form 214.
4. The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted in Columbus, Ohio, on 23 October 1967. He successfully completed his training and was promoted to the pay grade of E-5 on 18 June 1968. He was transferred to Vietnam on 23 September 1968 and was assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment for duty as a light weapons infantryman and squad leader.
5. His records show that he received fragmentation wounds to the head on 14 November 1968. This information is further supported by the presence of his name on the Vietnam Casualty Listing.
6. A review of his records failed to reveal the presence of orders awarding him the Purple Heart.
7. On 16 June 1969, nonjudicial punishment was imposed against him for leaving his guard post without authority. His punishment consisted of a reduction to the pay grade of E-4 and a forfeiture of pay.
8. He departed Vietnam on 13 September 1969 and was transferred to Fort Lewis, Washington, where he was honorably released from active duty on 15 September 1969, as an overseas returnee. He had served 1 year, 10 months and 23 days of total active service and his DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge. Additionally, his records show that he had excellent conduct and efficiency ratings throughout his service.
9. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as a result of hostile action. Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify that the wound was a result of hostile action, that the wound must have required treatment by a medical officer, and that the medical treatment was made a matter of official record.
10. Army Regulation 600-8-22 also prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning award of the Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM). It states, in pertinent part, that the AGCM was established by Executive Order 8809, 28 June 1941 and was amended by Executive Order 9323, 1943 and by Executive Order 10444, 10 April 1953 and is awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal military service. The regulation also states, in pertinent part, that for first award only, upon termination of service on or after 27 June 1950, a period of service of less than 3 years but more than 1 year qualifies for award of the AGCM.
11. Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register-Vietnam Era) was published to assist commanders and personnel officers in determining or establishing the eligibility of individual members for campaign participation credit, assault landing credit, and unit citation badges awarded during the Vietnam Conflict. Table 1 (Army Units in Numerical Order) of the pamphlet indicates that the applicant’s unit was also authorized awards of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/Palm) Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal – First Class (RVNCAHM-FC) Unit Citation during the period he was assigned to the unit. It also shows that his unit participated in four campaigns during his tour in Vietnam, which constitutes authority to award the applicant four bronze service stars for wear on his already awarded VSM.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. Although there are no orders present in the applicant's records to verify his claim that he was awarded the Purple Heart in Vietnam, there is sufficient evidence available to show that he was in fact wounded on 14 November 1968 and that he was officially reported as a casualty on that date. Accordingly, it is reasonable to presume that he was in fact awarded the Purple Heart as he claims and through an administrative oversight, the orders were never filed in his records. Therefore, the Board finds that it would be in the interest of justice to add the award of the Purple Heart to his DD Form 214 at this time.
2. Additionally, the evidence of record also shows that he should have been awarded the RVNGC w/Palm Unit Citation, the RVNCAHM-FC Unit Citation and four bronze service stars (campaign participation) for wear on his already awarded VSM. Accordingly, it would be in the interest of justice to do so at this time.
3. The Board also notes that the applicant had no lost time and that he did not receive an AGCM at the time he was separated from the service. Consequently, the Board finds that it was likely the result of an administrative error, as opposed to it being the result of a conscious disqualification by any of the unit commanders for which he served. Therefore, in the interest of justice, the Board determined that this error should be corrected and the applicant should receive the AGCM at this time.
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 showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart;
b. by awarding him the RVNGC w/Palm Unit Citation, the RVNCAHM-FC Unit Citation, and four bronze service stars for wear on his already awarded VSM; and
c. by awarding him the AGCM for the period of 23 October 1967 through 15 September 1969.
BOARD VOTE:
____mm _ ___fcj___ __wdp__ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
____Melvin H. Meyer ____
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2003090245 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 2003/10/21 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. 189 | 110.0000/CORR 214 |
| 2. 61 | 107.0015/PH |
| 3. 102 | 107.0056/AGCM |
| 4. 140 | 107.0094/RVNGC |
| 5. 141 | 107.0095/RVNCAHM |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002080013C070215
However, the evidence of record does establish that he is entitled to be awarded the RVNCAHM-FC Unit Citation, the RVNGC w/Palm Unit Citation, the MUC and four bronze service stars for wear on his already awarded VSM. After carefully examining the applicant’s record of service, the Board has determined that the applicant should have received the AGCM for his service from 14 November 1967 through 12 July 1969. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002080348C070215
The Board finds that the evidence of record establishes that he was injured in combat in Vietnam on 4 September 1970 and that he is entitled to an award of the Purple Heart for that injury at this time. After carefully examining the applicant’s record of service, the Board has determined that the applicant should have received the AGCM for his service from 6 August 1969 through 5 August 1971. In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003083623C070212
A review of the available records fails to show any indication that the applicant was wounded or that he was recommended for award of the Purple Heart. The applicant participated in six campaigns during his assignment in Vietnam. Although the standard evidentiary documentation required for awarding the Purple Heart is not present in this case, the Board finds that the statements submitted by three former members of the applicant's unit at the time, of which one was the first sergeant at...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002078323C070215
In support of his application he submits statements from the company executive officer (a Retired colonel) and two former members of his unit who were present when he was wounded and a copy of the orders awarding him the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). Accordingly, the Board must presume that given the circumstances surrounding the attack, the large number of soldiers killed and wounded and the confusion that followed thereafter, that because the applicant was returned to duty after medical...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002078526C070215
Although the evidence of record has failed to show that the applicant was wounded in action against the enemy and that the treatment of his wound was made a matter of record, the statement from the company commander at the time, as well as records from the National Archives to corroborate the attack, is sufficiently convincing enough to show that he was in fact wounded on 11 January 1969 and that the failure to record the treatment and award him the Purple Heart was the result of...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003091247C070212
Although the evidence does not clearly establish the date the applicant was promoted to the pay grade of E-5, documents contained in his records that are dated as early as 16 August 1969 and all the way through the date of his REFRAD, indicate his rank as that of a sergeant. After carefully examining the applicant’s record of service, the Board has determined that the applicant should have received the AGCM for his service from 28 November 1967 through 13 August 1970. As a result, the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003087226C070212
The evidence of record clearly shows that the applicant was awarded two awards of the Purple Heart; however, an administrative oversight at the time of separation resulted in one award being omitted from his DD Form 214. After carefully examining the applicant’s record of service, the Board has determined that the applicant should have received the AGCM for his service from 21 March 1967 through 11 January 1970. RECOMMENDATION : That all of the Department of the Army records related to...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002076701C070215
He had served 1 year, 11 months and 11 days of total active service and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the National Defense Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal. A review of his records, to include his separation medical examination, fails to show that he was ever treated for any wounds or injuries incurred as a result of enemy action. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002080587C070215
The applicant states that he believes that he should have been awarded the Purple Heart for a wound he received in Vietnam when a piece of shrapnel hit him in the inner left thigh. The Board finds that there is sufficient evidence in the available records to show that the applicant was in fact wounded in Vietnam and should have been awarded the Purple Heart for his wound. RECOMMENDATION : That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080001479
Table 1 (Army Units in Numerical Order) of the pamphlet indicates that the applicants unit was subsequently awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC), the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/Palm) Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class (RVNCAHM-FC) Unit Citation during the period he was assigned to the unit. Therefore, in the interest of justice, this error should be corrected and the applicant should receive the AGCM at...