RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


      IN THE CASE OF:


      BOARD DATE:          19 August 2004
      DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2004101280


      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. Luis Almodova                 |     |Analyst              |


      The following members, a quorum, were present:

|     |Mr. Fred Eichorn                  |     |Chairperson          |
|     |Mr. Curtis L. Greenway            |     |Member               |
|     |Mr. William D. Powers             |     |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, in effect, that the Bronze Star Medal be added
to his DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States, Report of Transfer
or Discharge.

2.  The applicant states, in effect, that he was awarded the Bronze Star
Medal on 4 September 1968, however, it does not appear on his DD Form 214.

3.  The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214 and a copy of the
awards certificate for the Bronze Star Medal he received in support of his
request.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the
Army of the United States on 15 May 1967.  He completed his basic combat
and his advanced individual training at Fort Polk, Louisiana.  After
completing all required training, he was awarded the military occupational
specialty (MOS), 11B (Light Weapons Infantryman).

2.  The applicant was assigned to Vietnam and he arrived there on 3 May
1968.  He was assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment,
1st Infantry Division.  The applicant served in Vietnam until 15 November
1968 when he was assigned to the 106th General Hospital in a patient
status.  He was further assigned to the Medical Holding Detachment, US Army
Hospital, Fort Polk, Louisiana, on 16 December 1968.

3.  The applicant was released from active duty on 29 January 1969, under
the provisions of Army Regulation (AR) 635-200, Early Separation of
Overseas Returnee, in the rank and pay grade of Specialist Four, E-4, with
1 year, 8 months, and 15 days active military service.

4.  Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and
Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized), of his DD Form 214, shows he was
awarded the following awards:  the National Defense Service Medal; the
Vietnam Service Medal; the Vietnam Campaign Medal; the Purple Heart; the
Combat Infantryman Badge; the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge, with
Machinegun Bar [M-60 Machinegun]; the Sharpshooter Marksmanship
Qualification Badge, with Rifle Bar [M-14 Rifle]; and the Marksman
Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Automatic Rifle Bar [M-16 Rifle].
The Bronze Star Medal is not shown among these awards.

5.  The applicant provided a copy of an awards certificate in support of
his application to show that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for
heroism in ground combat in the Republic of Vietnam on 27 September 1968.

6.  Because orders announcing award of the Bronze Star Medal, with "V"
Device to the applicant were not in the applicant's service personnel
records, a search of the general orders consolidation maintained by the
Awards Branch, Human Resources Command, was made for these orders.  This
search revealed that the applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, with
"V" Device, by General Orders 11933, published by Headquarters, 1st
Infantry Division, on 14 November 1968.

7.  The applicant's DD Form 214 shows entitlement to the Vietnam Service
Medal; however, it does not show the bronze service stars to which the
applicant is entitled for campaign participation.

8.  While in Vietnam, the applicant participated in the following three
campaigns:  the Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase IV, which extended from 2
April through 30 June 1968; the Vietnam Counteroffensive, Phase V, which
extended from 1 July through 1 November 1968; and the Vietnam
Counteroffensive, Phase VI, which extended from 2 November 1968 through 22
February 1969.

9.  AR 600-8-22, in pertinent part, authorizes 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.

10.  The applicant had "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings
throughout his Army service.  There is no evidence of indiscipline or a
breach of good order while he served on active duty.  There is no record
that he was subjected to either nonjudicial punishment or to court-martial.
 There is no entry in Item 42 (Remarks), of the applicant's DA Form 20,
Enlisted Qualification Record, to indicate that he was disqualified from
award of the Good Conduct Medal.

11.  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, 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division,
was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, with Palm, Unit
Citation, for the period 12 July 1965 through 16 October 1968, by
Department of the Army General Order (DAGO) Number 21, dated 1969 and the
Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class, Unit Citation,
for the period 12 July 1965 through 7 April 1970, by DAGO 53, dated 1970.
These unit awards are not shown on his DD Form 214.

12.  AR 672-5-1, in effect at the time of the applicant's separation
provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who
distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a
qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  This period is 3 years
except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the
termination of a period of Federal military service.  Although there is no
automatic entitlement to the Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be
justified.  To be eligible for award of the Good Conduct Medal, soldiers
must meet all of the following criteria:  all conduct (character) and
efficiency ratings must be recorded as "Excellent" except that ratings of
"Unknown" for portions of the period under consideration are not
disqualifying.  Service school efficiency ratings based upon academic
proficiency of at least "Good" rendered subsequent to 22 November 1955 are
not disqualifying.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, with "V" Device, for
heroism in ground combat, on 27 September 1968.  This award was not
included on his DD Form 214 on his release from active duty.  He is
therefore eligible to have this award added to his DD Form 214 at this
time.

2.  The applicant consistently had "Excellent" conduct and efficiency
ratings throughout his active duty service.  He attained the rank and pay
grade of Specialist Four, E-4, and there is no record of lost time in his
service personnel records.  The applicant earned the Bronze Star Medal,
with "V" Device; the Purple Heart; and the Combat Infantryman Badge on the
battlefield in Vietnam.  Based on this excellent record of service, he is
eligible for award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 15 May 1967
through 29 January 1969 and to have it added to his DD Form 214.
3.  The applicant participated in three campaigns during his tour of duty
in Vietnam.  He is therefore entitled to award of three bronze service
stars to be affixed to his already-awarded Vietnam Service Medal and to
have them shown on his separation document.

4.  The applicant served in a unit:  Company A, 2nd Battalion, 18th
Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, which was awarded the Republic of
Vietnam Gallantry Cross, with Palm, Unit Citation, and the Republic of
Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class, Unit Citation He is
entitled to these unit awards and it would be appropriate to have them
added to his DD Form 214 at this time.

BOARD VOTE:

__fe____  __clg___  __wdp___  GRANT RELIEF

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant
a recommendation for 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:

      a.  adding the already-awarded Bronze Star Medal, with "V" Device, to
the applicant's DD Form 214;

      b.  awarding the applicant the Good Conduct Medal for the period 15
May 1967 through 29 January 1969;

      c.  awarding the applicant three bronze service stars to be affixed to
his Vietnam Service Medal, to denote his participation in three campaigns
while he served in Vietnam, and to be shown on his DD Form 214 as the
Vietnam Service Medal, with three bronze service stars; and
d.  awarding the applicant the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, with
Palm, Unit Citation, and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal,
First Class, Unit Citation, and adding these awards to his DD Form 214.




                 Fred Eichorn
            ______________________
                    CHAIRPERSON


                                    INDEX

|CASE ID                 |AR2004101280                            |
|SUFFIX                  |                                        |
|RECON                   |                                        |
|DATE BOARDED            |                                        |
|TYPE OF DISCHARGE       |                                        |
|DATE OF DISCHARGE       |                                        |
|DISCHARGE AUTHORITY     |                                        |
|DISCHARGE REASON        |                                        |
|BOARD DECISION          |GRANT PLUS                              |
|REVIEW AUTHORITY        |                                        |
|ISSUES         1.  46   |107.0000                                |
|2.  60                  |107.0014                                |
|3.                      |                                        |
|4.                      |                                        |
|5.                      |                                        |
|6.                      |                                        |



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