IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  7 November 2013

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20130004847 


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 earlier request for correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Bronze Star Medal.

2.  The applicant states he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Vietnam.

3.  The applicant provides:

* Bronze Star Medal recommendations
* Bronze Star Medal proposed citation
* Bronze Star Medal orders
* Bronze Star Medal Certificate
* Certificate of Appreciation

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 AR20120010799 on 3 January 2013.

2.  The Bronze Star Medal orders are new evidence that warrant consideration by the Board.

3.  The applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 28 April 1970.  He arrived in Vietnam on 10 October 1970.  He served as a personnel specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 313th Radio Research Battalion, Vietnam, from 18 October 1970 to 2 June 1971.  He was assigned to the Field Station in Pleiku, Vietnam, from 3 June 1971 to 19 September 1971.  He was assigned to HHC, 330th Radio Research Field Station, Vietnam, from 20 September 1971 to 6 November 1971.  On 7 November 1971, he was honorably released from active duty as an overseas returnee in the rank of specialist five after completing 1 year, 6 months, and 10 days of creditable active service with no lost time.

4.  His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded or authorized the:

* National Defense Service Medal
* Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars
* Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960)
* Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation
* Meritorious Unit Cross (properly known as the Meritorious Unit Commendation)

5.  He provides Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces, Military Region 2, General Orders Number 709, dated 6 December 1971, which show he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in connection with ground operations against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam during the period 1 July to 30 September 1971.

6.  There is no evidence to show the applicant received the first award of the Army Good Conduct Medal.  There also is no evidence of any disciplinary action or a commander's disqualification that would have precluded him from being awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal.  His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he received all "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings throughout his service.

7.  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 Federal 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.  The enlisted person must have had all "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings.  There must have been no convictions by a court-martial.

8.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists the awards received by units serving in Vietnam.  This pamphlet shows HHC, 313th Radio Research Battalion, was cited for award of the:

* Meritorious Unit Commendation for meritorious achievement during the period 1 July 1969 to 30 December 1970 in Department of the Army General Orders (DAGO) Number 43, dated 1972
* Meritorious Unit Commendation for meritorious achievement during the period 1 January 1971 to 30 June 1971 in DAGO Number 32, dated 1973

9.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 also shows HHC, 330th Radio Research Field Station, was cited for award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation for meritorious achievement during the period 1 July 1971 to 31 June 1972 in DAGO Number 32, dated 1973.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  General orders show the applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.  Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this medal.

2.  He was honorably released from active duty in the rank of specialist five with 18 months of active service and no lost time.  He received all "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings throughout his service and he had no record of any disciplinary action or a commander's disqualification for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal.  It appears he met the eligibility criteria for the first award of the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 28 April 1970 through 7 November 1971 based on completion of a period of qualifying service ending with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Therefore, he should be awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) and his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this award.

3.  His combined units in Vietnam were cited for three awards of the Meritorious Unit Commendation during his period of assignment.  Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show these unit awards.



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 AR20120010799, dated 3 January 2013.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by:

	a.  awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) for the period 28 April 1970 through 7 November 1971;

	b.  deleting award of the Meritorious Unit Cross from his DD Form 214; and

	c.  adding award of the Bronze Star Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award), and Meritorious Unit Commendation (3rd Award) to his 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)                                         AR20130004847



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20130004847



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