IN THE CASE OF:	  

	BOARD DATE:	  1 July 2008

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20080006031 


THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE:

1.  Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any).

2.  Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any).


THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Purple Heart.

2.  The applicant states that he was wounded in action in Vietnam and the Purple Heart is not on his DD Form 214.

3.  The applicant provides three eyewitness statements and page 2 of a Department of Veterans Affairs Rating Decision, dated 2 July 2007.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  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 also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant’s 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.  While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file.  In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing.



2.  The applicant was inducted on 7 October 1966.  He arrived in Vietnam on 
4 October 1967.  He served as a wireman assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry in Vietnam from 4 October 1967 until he was wounded in action on 
8 February 1968 and evacuated to the United States on 5 March 1968 for further medical treatment.  On 4 October 1968, the applicant was released from active duty in the temporary rank of specialist four after completing 1 year, 11 months, and 28 days of creditable active service with no time lost.

3.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar as authorized awards.

4.  There are no orders for the Purple Heart in the applicant’s service personnel records.  However, the Vietnam Casualty Roster shows he was wounded in action on 8 February 1968.  Item 40 (Wounds) on his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) also shows he was wounded (gunshot wound to left arm, knee, and side) on 8 February 1968.  His Standard Form 89 (Report of Medical History), dated 16 September 1968, shows that he sustained left knee and left arm injuries in Vietnam.  

5.  There is no evidence the applicant received the first award of the Good Conduct Medal.  There also is no evidence the applicant was disqualified by his chain of command from receiving the Good Conduct Medal.  His records show he received conduct and efficiency ratings of “excellent” throughout his service.

6.  Records show the applicant participated in two campaigns during his assignment in Vietnam.

7.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists the unit awards received by units serving in Vietnam.  This document shows the applicant's unit is eligible for award of the Valorous Unit Award for actions during the period 7-11 February 1968 based on Department of the Army General Orders Number 73, dated 1968.

8.  Department of the Army General Orders Number 8, 1974, announced award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation to Headquarters, U.S. Military Assistance Command and its subordinate units during the period 8 February 1962 to 28 March 1973 and to Headquarters, U.S. Army Vietnam and its subordinate units during the period 20 July 1965 to 
28 March 1973.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) 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 the result of hostile action, the wound must have required treatment by military medical personnel, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.  

10.  Army Regulation 672-5-1, in effect at the time, provided policy and criteria concerning individual military decorations.  It stated that the Army Good Conduct Medal was awarded for each 3 years of continuous enlisted active Federal military service completed on or after 27 August 1940 and, for the first award only, upon termination of service on or after 27 June 1950 of less than 3 years but more than 1 year.  At the time, a Soldier's conduct and efficiency ratings must 
have been rated as "excellent" for the entire period of qualifying service except that a service school efficiency rating based upon academic proficiency of at least "good" rendered subsequent to 22 November 1955 was not disqualifying.  However, there was no right or entitlement to the medal until the immediate commander made positive recommendation for its award and until the awarding authority announced the award in General Orders.

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960).  This medal was awarded by the Government of Vietnam 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 more.  Qualifying service outside the geographical limits of the Republic of Vietnam required the individual to provide direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam and 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 Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960).

12.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, authorizes award of a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation and states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate service medal.  

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The entry on the Vietnam Casualty Roster which shows the applicant was wounded on 8 February 1968 in Vietnam is accepted as sufficient evidence on which to base award of the Purple Heart in this case. 


2.  The applicant was separated in the temporary rank of specialist four with 
almost 2 years of creditable active service with no time lost.  It appears the applicant met the eligibility criteria for the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 7 October 1966 through 4 October 1968 based on completion of a period of qualifying service ending with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Therefore, his records should be corrected to show this award.

3.  The applicant is eligible for award of the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960) because he qualified for award of the Vietnam Service Medal and was evacuated prior to completing six months of service due to wounds resulting from hostile action.

4.  The applicant participated in two campaigns during his assignment in Vietnam which makes him eligible for award of the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars.

5.  The applicant’s unit was cited for award of the Valorous Unit Award while he was assigned to it.

6.  The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation was awarded to all units which served in Vietnam.  

BOARD VOTE:

__xxx___  __xxx___  __xxx___  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by:

	a.  awarding him the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 
8 February 1968 in Vietnam; 

	b.  awarding him the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 7 October 1966 through 4 October 1968; and
	c.  adding the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the Republic Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960), the Valorous Unit Award, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, and two bronze service stars for wear on his already-awarded Vietnam Service Medal to his DD Form 214.  


							XXX
       _    _______   ___
       CHAIRPERSON
      
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.



ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20080006031





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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20080006031



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