IN THE CASE OF:	  

	BOARD DATE:	  4 November 2008

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20080013738 


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, in effect, correction of his Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge (DD Form 214) to show award of the Purple Heart.        

2.  The applicant states, in effect, that he was awarded the Purple Heart but his name was misspelled.  He returned to the United States before the error was corrected.  He no longer has a copy of the original orders and never received a copy of corrected orders.

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

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.  On 19 November 1964, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army for 3 years. He completed his initial training and was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 11B (Light Weapons Infantryman).

3.  Special Orders Number 16, United States Army Training Center, Infantry, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, dated 22 January 1965, awarded the applicant the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle [M-14] Bar.

4.  On 28 May 1965, the applicant was assigned duty as an automatic rifleman with the 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Brigade, in the Republic of Vietnam.

5.  Item 40 (Wounds) of the applicant’s Enlisted Qualification Record (DA Form 20) shows that he received a fragment wound to his right arm on 16 March 1966.

6.  On 29 May 1966, the applicant returned to the United States for duty at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

7.  On 17 November 1967, the applicant was released from active duty and transferred to the United States Army Reserve Control Group (Reinforcement).  He had attained the rank of specialist four, pay grade E-4 and had completed 
2 years, 11 months and 29 days of creditable active service.

8.  Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of the applicant's DD Form 214 lists his awards as the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.  It does not show award of the Purple Heart or the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar.

9.  There is no available evidence in the applicant’s records or on the Awards and Decorations Computer Assisted Retrieval System (ADCARS) showing that he was awarded a Purple Heart.

10.  The Vietnam Casualty Roster shows that the applicant was wounded in action on 16 March 1966.

11. 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, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.
12.  Review of the applicant's records indicates entitlement to additional awards and decorations that are not shown on his DD Form 214.

13.  Item 38 (Record of Assignments) of the applicant's DA Form 20 shows that his conduct and efficiency were excellent.  The applicant’s records do not contain any evidence of disciplinary action.  There is no evidence to show that the commander took any action to deny him the Army Good Conduct Medal. 

14.  Army Regulation 672-5-1, in effect at the time, provided that the Army Good Conduct Medal was awarded to individuals who had completed a qualified 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.  The enlisted person must have had all "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings and no convictions by a court-martial.  Ratings of "Unknown" for 
portions of the period under consideration are not disqualifying.  Service and efficiency ratings based upon academic proficiency of at least "Good" rendered subsequent to 22 November 1955 are not disqualifying.  

15.  Appendix B of Army Regulation 600-8-22 shows that based on the applicant's dates of service in the Republic of Vietnam, he participated in the following two campaign periods: the Vietnam Defense and the Vietnam Counteroffensive.  This same regulation states that a bronze service star will be awarded for wear on the Vietnam Service Medal for participation in each campaign.  

16.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists the unit awards received by units serving in the Republic of Vietnam.  This publication shows that the 503rd Infantry Brigade, during the time of the applicant's assignment, was cited in Department of the Army General Orders (DAGO) Number 40, dated 1967, for award of the Presidential Unit Citation; in DAGO Number 48, dated 1968, for award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation; and in DAGO Number 51, dated 1971, for award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.  

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There are no general orders available that show the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart.  However, the applicant's name is listed on the Vietnam Casualty Roster and his DA Form 20 shows that he was wounded in action on 
16 March 1966.  Therefore, the applicant should be awarded the Purple Heart.

2.  The applicant’s records clearly show that he distinguished himself in the performance of his military service.  Therefore, it is presumed that his not receiving an Army Good Conduct Medal for his service was an oversight.  Accordingly, he should be awarded this medal.

3.  Records show that the applicant participated in two campaign periods during his service in the Republic of Vietnam.  Therefore, he is eligible for award of two bronze service stars to be affixed to his Vietnam Service Medal.

4.  The applicant’s unit was cited in general orders for award of the Presidential Unit Citation and the Meritorious Unit Commendation.  Therefore, his records should be corrected to show these unit awards.

5.  The applicant’s unit was cited in general orders for award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.  Therefore, his records should be corrected to show this foreign unit award.

6.  Special Orders show that the applicant was awarded the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar.  Therefore, his records should be corrected to show this award.

BOARD VOTE:

____X___  ___X ___  ___X ___  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 
16 March 1966 in the Republic of Vietnam;

	b.  awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period from 
19 November 1964 through 17 November 1967; and
	c.  showing that, in addition to the awards shown on his DD Form 214, his authorized awards include the Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Good Conduct Medal, two bronze service stars to be affixed to his already-awarded Vietnam Service Medal, the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.







__________ X    _______   ___
       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)                                         AR20070016793



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20080013738



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