IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	       18 November 2008

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20080014712 


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 Army Commendation Medal and all awards and decorations to which he may be entitled.

2.  The applicant states that he was issued the Army Commendation Medal by the 510th Signal Company in Vietnam and that his discharge does not show all the awards he earned. 

3.  The applicant provides no additional evidence in support of his application.

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 31 January 1969.  He was honorably discharged on 4 February 1969 for enlistment in the Regular Army.  He enlisted in the Regular Army on 5 February 1969 for a period of 3 years.  He arrived in Vietnam on 8 August 1969.  He served as a communications electrician repair parts specialist assigned to the 41st Signal Battalion in Vietnam from 13 August 1969 through 28 February 1970.  He was assigned to the 510th Signal Company in Vietnam from 1 March 1970 through 4 August 1970.  On 31 March 1971, the applicant was released from active duty in the rank of specialist four after completing a total of 2 years and 2 months of creditable active service with no time lost.      

3.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows the National Defense Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960), the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars, the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar, and the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar as authorized awards.

4.  Headquarters, 1st Signal Brigade (U.S. Army Strategic Command) General Orders Number 2536, dated 24 September 1970, show the applicant received the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service during the period from 
8 August 1969 through 7 August 1970.

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 four campaigns during his assignment in Vietnam. 

7.  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.

8.  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.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), 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.  Orders show the applicant received the Army Commendation Medal.

2.  The applicant was separated in the rank of specialist four with 26 months of creditable active service with no time lost.  Therefore, it appears the applicant met the eligibility criteria for the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 31 January 1969 through 31 March 1971 based on completion of a period of qualifying service ending with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  

3.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars.  However, he participated in four campaigns during his assignment in Vietnam which entitles him to award of the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars.

4.  The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation was awarded to all units which served in Vietnam.  The applicant served in Vietnam during a qualifying period and is eligible for 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 first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 
31 January 1969 through 31 March 1971;  
	
	b.  deleting the entry, “Vietnam Service Medal w/3 Bronze Service Stars” in item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) on his DD Form 214; and  

   c.  adding the Good Conduct Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation on 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)                                         AR20080014712



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20080014712



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