RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


      IN THE CASE OF:


      BOARD DATE:        21 JUNE 2005
      DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20040008208


      I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record
of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in
the case of the above-named individual.

|     |Mr. Carl W. S. Chun               |     |Director             |
|     |Mr. Kenneth H. Aucock             |     |Analyst              |

      The following members, a quorum, were present:

|     |Ms. Margaret Patterson            |     |Chairperson          |
|     |Mr. Patrick McGann                |     |Member               |
|     |Ms. LaVerne Douglas               |     |Member               |

      The Board considered the following evidence:

      Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records.

      Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including advisory opinion,
if any).

THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant requests that his record be corrected to show his MOS
(military occupational specialty) as 11B (infantry) vice 63B (wheel vehicle
mechanic); that he be awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge; and that he be
awarded the Air Medal with “V” device.

2.  The applicant states that he served as an 11B in Vietnam until he
volunteered for duty as a helicopter door gunner.  His DA Form 20 (Enlisted
Qualification Record) reflects this information.  His MOS was never 63B20.
He was never a mechanic.  As an infantryman (11B), he was involved in
firefights and underwent mortar attacks.  His DA Form 20 shows award of the
Air Medal with “V” device.  His DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or
Discharge) should reflect this award.

3.  The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214 and DA Form 20.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant is requesting correction of an alleged error or injustice
which occurred on 4 January 1968.  The application submitted in this case
is dated      22 September 2004.

2.  Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 1552(b), provides that applications for
correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery
of the alleged error or injustice.  This provision of law allows the Army
Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse failure to file
within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines that it
would be in the interest of justice to do so.  In this case, the ABCMR will
conduct a review of the merits of the case to determine if it would be in
the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file.

3.  The applicant was inducted into the Army on 5 January 1966, trained as
an infantryman and qualified as a sharpshooter with the rifle and as an
expert with the machinegun.  In July 1966, he was assigned to the 15th
Administration Company, 1st Cavalry Division, in Vietnam for duty as a
lifeguard.  On 5 October 1966, he was assigned to Headquarters and
Headquarters Company (HHC),      1st Cavalry Division for duty in MOS 11B10
as an infantryman.

4.  In November 1966, the applicant requested transfer to Company C,
228th Aviation Battalion (Assault Helicopter).  His request was approved
and he was assigned as a door gunner to that unit on 27 November 1966, and
in April 1967, as a wheel vehicle mechanic, MOS 63B20.
5.  On 27 January 1967, the applicant requested that his primary MOS be
changed from 11B10 to 63B10.  His request was approved and orders were
published awarding the applicant a primary MOS of 63A10, and a secondary
MOS of 11B10.  On 13 February 1967, orders were published awarding the
applicant the primary MOS of 63B20 and withdrawing primary MOS 63A10.

6.  On 19 January 1967, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) published orders
awarding the applicant the Air Medal for meritorious achievement from
30 November 1966 to 24 December 1966.

7.  On 21 March 1967, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) published orders
awarding the applicant the Aircraft Crewman Badge.

8.  On 6 April 1967, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) published orders
awarding the applicant the Air Medal for meritorious achievement on 23
December 1966.

9.  On 13 April 1967, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) published orders
awarding the applicant the Air Medal with “V” device for heroism on 17
December 1966.

10.  The applicant returned to the United States in June 1967.  He
participated in two campaigns during his tour of duty in Vietnam.  The 15th
Administration Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Cavalry
Division, and the 228th Aviation Battalion were awarded the Republic of
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm during the period of his
assignments to those organizations.  Additionally, the 228th Aviation
Battalion was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for its actions
during the period that he was assigned to that organization; and, Company C
of that battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its
actions during the period of his assignment to that company.

11.  In July 1967, he was assigned as a clerk to a headquarters detachment
of a training brigade in Fort Lewis, Washington.  He was released from
active duty at Fort Lewis on 4 January 1968.  His MOS shown on his DD Form
214 is 63B20, wheel vehicle mechanic.  His DD Form 214 shows award of the
National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, 2 overseas bars,
the Sharpshooter Qualification Medal (M-14).  It shows award of the “Air
Medal w/Device.”  It also shows award of the Vietnam Service Medal, but in
so doing does not indicate the number of campaigns in which he
participated.

12.  The Vietnam Service Medal is awarded to all members of the Armed
Forces serving in Vietnam from 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973.  One
bronze service star is authorized for each campaign.
13.  The Combat Infantryman Badge is awarded to infantry officers and to
enlisted and warrant officer persons 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.  Awards will not be
made to members of headquarters companies of units larger in size than
brigade.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence shows that the applicant himself requested that his MOS be
changed from 11B to 63B.  His request was approved and he was awarded MOS
63B as his primary MOS.  His DD Form 214 reflecting that MOS is correct.
Thus, his request to correct his DD Form 214 to show his MOS as 11B is not
granted.

2.  The evidence shows that the applicant served as a lifeguard with the
15th Administration Company during his first three months in Vietnam, and
it wasn’t until 5 October 1966 that he performed duty as an infantryman
with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Cavalry Division.  There is
no evidence, however, to show that he served in active ground combat.
Nonetheless, as indicated above, the Combat Infantryman Badge is not
awarded to Soldiers of headquarters companies of units larger in size than
brigade.  Subsequent to his assignment with HHC, 1st Cavalry Division, he
was assigned as a door gunner, and then as a wheel vehicle mechanic with an
aviation battalion.  Consequently, the applicant is not entitled to award
of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

3.  The applicant was awarded the Expert Marksmanship Badge with machinegun
bar, Aircraft Crewman Badge, two awards of the Air Medal for meritorious
achievement, and the Air Medal with “V” device for heroism.  Those awards
should be reflected on his DD Form 214.

4.  The applicant participated in two campaigns during this tour of duty in
Vietnam.  His DD Form 214 should be corrected to show award of the Vietnam
Service Medal with two bronze service stars (one for each campaign).

5.  The applicant is entitled to three awards of the Republic of Vietnam
Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, however regulations states that
only one emblem (with palm) will be worn regardless of the number of times
the decoration was awarded; and award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation
and the Presidential Unit Citation.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF

__MP ___  ___PM__  ___LD __  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

1.  The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to
warrant a recommendation for partial relief and to excuse failure to timely
file.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army
records of the individual concerned be corrected by showing award of the
Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with machinegun bar, Aircraft
Crewman Badge, the Air Medal with Numeral 3 and “V” Device, the Vietnam
Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the Republic of Vietnam
Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, the Meritorious Unit Commendation,
and the Presidential Unit Citation.

2.  The Board further determined that the evidence presented is
insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief.  As a result,
the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to
correcting his DD Form 214 to show his MOS as 11B, and award of the Combat
Infantryman Badge.




                            ____Margaret Patterson_____
                                      CHAIRPERSON



                                    INDEX

|CASE ID                 |AR20040008208                           |
|SUFFIX                  |                                        |
|RECON                   |YYYYMMDD                                |
|DATE BOARDED            |20050621                                |
|TYPE OF DISCHARGE       |(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)    |
|DATE OF DISCHARGE       |YYYYMMDD                                |
|DISCHARGE AUTHORITY     |AR . . . . .                            |
|DISCHARGE REASON        |                                        |
|BOARD DECISION          |PARTIAL GRANT                           |
|REVIEW AUTHORITY        |                                        |
|ISSUES         1.       |100.00                                  |
|2.                      |107.00                                  |
|3.                      |                                        |
|4.                      |                                        |
|5.                      |                                        |
|6.                      |                                        |


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