IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:  23 January 2014

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20130010175 


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 previous request for correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Force of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show he was awarded the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Machinegun Bar.  He also requests that the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars be added to his DD Form 214.

2.  The applicant states:

* The Vietnam Service Medal was erroneously removed from his DD Form 214
* He served in Vietnam from 8 August until 8 November 1968
* He participated in the Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase V Campaign and the Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase VI Campaign; therefore, he earned two bronze service stars
* He believes he qualified for the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Machinegun Bar while stationed in Georgia, but he has no orders or qualification card

3.  The applicant provides a copy of a photograph of himself holding what he contends to be an M60 machine gun.

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 AR20120005994, on 4 October 2012.

2.  The applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 5 March 1968.  He completed training as a light weapons infantryman.  He arrived in Vietnam on 8 August 1968 and he was assigned to Company D, 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry.

3.  He participated in the following two campaigns:

* Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase V Campaign (1 July through
1 November 1968)
* Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase VI Campaign (2 November 1968 through 22 February 1969)

4.  The applicant departed Vietnam en route to the United States on 8 November 1968.

5.  The applicant was honorably released from active duty on 7 March 1970.  He was transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Control Group (Annual Training) to complete his remaining service obligation.  His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded or authorized the:

* Purple Heart
* National Defense Service Medal
* Vietnam Service Medal
* Combat Infantryman Badge
* “(rfle) [sic] Sharpshooter Badge"

6.  In his initial application to this Board, dated 31 March 2012, the applicant requested correction of his DD Form 214 to show award of the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle, Machinegun, and Pistol Bars.

7.  On 4 October 2012, the Board directed that the applicant's DD Form 214 be corrected by issuing him a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to:

	a.  delete the Vietnam Service Medal and the (Rifle) Sharpshooter Badge from his DD Form 214, and

	b.  adding to his DD Form 214 the:

* Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle (M-14) Bar
* Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Automatic Rifle 
(M-16) Bar
* Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960)
* Meritorious Unit Commendation
* Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation
* Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation

8.  The Board denied that portion of his request pertaining to correcting his
DD Form 214 to show the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Machinegun and Pistol Bars.

9.  A review of the applicant's record fails to show the applicant ever qualified as a sharpshooter with the M60 machinegun.

10.  The applicant provides a copy of a photograph he describes as showing him carrying an M60 machinegun.

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) sets forth requirements for award of basic marksmanship qualification badges.  The qualification badge is awarded to indicate the degree – Expert, Sharpshooter, and Marksman -- in which an individual has qualified in a prescribed record course.  An appropriate bar is furnished to denote each weapon with which the individual has qualified.  The qualification should be shown as:  Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar or Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Automatic Rifle Bar or Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Pistol Bar.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's contentions have been noted.  His new evidence has been considered.

2.  The applicant was entitled to the Vietnam Service Medal based on his qualifying period of service in Vietnam while in the Army.  He participated in two campaigns that entitled him to two bronze service stars for wear on his already-awarded Vietnam Service Medal; however, based on an administrative error, his Vietnam Service Medal was erroneously deleted from his DD Form 214 in the Board's previous decision.  Therefore, it would now be appropriate at this time to correct his DD Form 214 to show the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars.

3.  In the copy of the photograph the applicant provided, he may be holding an M60 machinegun; however, there is no evidence in the available record and he did not provide any evidence that shows he was awarded the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Machinegun Bar by appropriate orders.  Therefore, there is an insufficient evidentiary basis for granting this portion of the applicant's requested relief.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

____X___  ____X___  ___X__ _  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

1.  The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant partial amendment of the ABCMR’s decision in Docket Number AR20120005994, dated 4 October 2012.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by adding to his DD Form 214 the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars.

2.  The Board further determined that the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief.  As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to awarding him the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Machinegun Bar and correcting his DD Form 214 to show this award.




      _______ _  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)                                         AR20130010175



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20130010175



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