IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 4 October 2011
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20110004184
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 reconsideration of his request to add the Vietnamese Staff Service Medal-Second Class to item 13 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty).
2. The applicant states the Vietnamese Staff Service Medal-Second Class should be added to his DD Form 214 because he was unaware he had been awarded this medal until he was offered the opportunity to request his records after they were copied onto microfiche. He became aware the Vietnamese Staff Service Medal-Second Class was awarded to him when he received his records. He was never presented with the award or the certificate before leaving Vietnam. By that time it was too late to comply with the provisions of Army Regulation
600-8-22 (Military Awards). He believes that if an award is being filed in his military personnel records, he should be entitled to its permanent wear.
3. The applicant provides a copy of the translated award order bearing the red stamp of the command indicating the command approved the translation.
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20100010909 on 25 January 2011.
2. The applicant, a retired first sergeant/E-8, served in Vietnam from 15 January 1966-1 May 1967 during his first enlistment and from 3 July 1970-28 May 1971 during his second enlistment. He reenlisted again in 1974 and retired in 1989.
3. During the original consideration of the applicant's request, the ABCMR considered the translated orders Number 353 by authority of the Commander of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Armed Forces I Corps and Military Region 1. These orders show the applicant was awarded the Vietnamese Staff Service Medal-Second Class on 3 July 1971 for exceptional professionalism and devotion to duty while assigned to XXIV Corps Headquarters (Forward) during period 1 February-3 April 1971. The orders were not translated until 20 February 1972 at which time the official commander's seal was applied over the XXIV Corps Senior Army of the RVN Liaison Officer's signature.
4. In the original consideration, the Board cited Army Regulation 600-8-22 pertaining to accepting and wearing foreign military badges and awards. Paragraph 9-25 states that commanders serving in the rank of brigadier general or higher and colonel-level commanders who exercise general court-martial authority are delegated authority to approve acceptance, retention, and permanent wear of foreign decorations and badges.
5. The current version of Army Regulation 600-8-22 added a table E-1 (Foreign Decorations). This table includes the Vietnamese Staff Service Medal among the list of authorized awards. A note explains that any authorized award may be accepted and retained, but those that are purely honorary may not be worn. The fact that many Vietnamese awards were awarded to officers in the first class and to enlisted personnel in the second class is not explained. First and second class levels of the same decoration typically had slightly different color schemes.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. The Vietnamese Staff Service Medal-Second Class is not shown on his DD Form 214 because he did not receive it before he left the RVN.
2. The available evidence shows the applicant left the RVN on 28 May 1971. The Vietnamese Staff Service Medal-Second Class was awarded to him on 3 July 1971, but the orders were not translated and it was not approved until 20 February 1972. Given these circumstances it is remarkable that a copy of the translated award orders is even in his record.
3. The award is on the approved list for acceptance and retention. The award was for the applicant's "exceptional professionalism and devotion to duty" and clearly was not simply honorary and could be permanently worn.
4. The Vietnamese Staff Service Medal-Second Class should be added to the applicant's last DD Form 214.
BOARD VOTE:
____X____ ___X_____ ___X_____ GRANT FULL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:
The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant amendment of the ABCMR's decision in Docket Number AR20100010909, dated 25 January 2010. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by adding the Vietnamese Staff Service Medal-Second Class to the awards listed on his last DD Form 214.
____________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) AR20110004184
3
ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20110004184
2
ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140000899
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) with "V" Device, the Air Medal (AM) (2nd and 3rd Awards), and the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star. The 57th Aviation Company was awarded the Valorous Unit Award, RVN Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, and RVN Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation by general orders during his...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100024384
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation (2nd Award), RVN Civil Actions Honor First Class Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and RVN Gallantry Cross with Silver Star. The applicant provides his DD Form 214, effective 5 June 1970; DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214), dated 2...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140013140
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) by showing award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) and the Vietnamese Armed Forces Honor Medal. He was released from active duty on 12 January 1972 and his DD Form 214 shows he was awarded or authorized: * National Defense Service Medal * Vietnam Service Medal * RVN Campaign Medal with Device (1960) * Overseas Service Bar (2) 8. As a result, the Board recommends that all...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120007432
Army Regulation 672-5-1 (Awards), in effect at the time, stated the Army Good Conduct Medal was awarded for each 3 years of continuous enlisted active military service completed on or after 27 August 1940; for the first award only, 1 year served entirely during the period 7 December 1941 to 2 March 1946; 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. There is no available evidence showing the document the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060012816C071108
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 29 March 2007 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20060012816 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. Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of the applicant’s DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) shows that...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130017681
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). The applicant provides a foreign document/certificate. Regrettably, there is no evidence in the applicant's records and the applicant did not provide evidence that shows this foreign award was approved by a commander serving in the rank of brigadier general or higher and/or a colonel-level commander who exercised general court-martial authority, or a commander charged with the custody of military...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100027176
Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Army Good Conduct Medal (First Award) for the period 2 August 1967 through 1 August 1969 and to correction of his DD Form 214 to show this award. Records show he participated in five campaigns during his service in Vietnam; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show one silver service star for wear on his already-awarded Vietnam Service Medal. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130004892
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show twenty-one awards of the Air Medal and an individual award of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross. General Orders Number 4935, 1st Aviation Brigade, dated 26 June 1971, announced award of the Air Medal with "V" Device to the applicant for heroism on 13 April 1971. c. General Orders Number 6149, 1st Aviation Brigade, dated 2 September 1971, announced award of the Air...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050017378C070206
Department of the Army (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: the 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces, was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class, Unit Citation, for the period January 1968 through 24 September 1970, by Department of the Army General Order (DAGO) 48, dated 1971....
ARMY | BCMR | CY2015 | 20150000354
His records contain a copy of the orders showing he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 31 March 1970. There is no available evidence showing the applicant was awarded the "Vietnam Wound Medal" by the Vietnamese government. ________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.