IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 26 August 2014
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20140000905
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, the widow of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests correction of the FSM's DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show the Bronze Star Medal (BSM).
2. The applicant states she needs this correction for this award to be entered on the FSM's headstone.
3. The applicant provides the FSM's DD Form 214, Georgia Death Certificate, a BSM Certificate, and a newspaper account of his award of the BSM.
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. On 30 August 1966, the FSM was inducted into the Army of the United States. He was awarded military occupational specialty 36K (Field Wireman). The highest rank he held was specialist five/pay grade E-5.
2. His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows in:
* item 31 (Foreign Service) he was credited with service in Vietnam beginning on 14 February 1967
* item 38 (Record of Assignments) he was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, performing duties as a wireman during the period 20 February 1967 to 9 February 1968
* item 41 (Awards and Decorations) special orders awarded him the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-14)
3. General Orders Number 966, issued by Headquarters, 1st Infantry Division, dated 6 February 1968, awarded him the BSM for meritorious service in the Republic of Vietnam during the period February 1967 to February 1968.
4. His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded or authorized the:
* National Defense Service Medal
* Vietnam Service Medal (VSM)
* Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Campaign Medal with Device (1960)
* Army Good Conduct Medal
* Army Commendation Medal
* Combat Infantryman Badge
* 1 Overseas Service Bar
5. A review of his record indicates entitlement to additional awards not listed on his DD Form 214.
6. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states a bronze service star is worn on the appropriate service ribbon, to include the VSM, for each credited campaign. The Vietnam campaigns are listed in appendix B. His service in Vietnam coincided with the following campaigns:
* Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase II (1 July 1966-31 May 1967)
* Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase III (1 June 1967-29 January 1968)
* Tet Counteroffensive (30 January-1 April 1968)
7. Army Regulation 670-1 (Uniforms and Insignia) governs the requirements for the Overseas Service Bar. It states a bar is authorized for wear for each period of active Federal service as a member of the U.S. Army outside of the continental limits of the United States for the specific time frames and areas of operation cited in Army Regulation 670-1 or appropriate Department of the Army message. There are special provisions regarding authorization for the Overseas Service Bar for service in a hostile fire zone and for combining service to calculate award of the bars. For Vietnam service, one overseas service bar was authorized for each period of 6 months active Federal service as a member of a U.S. Service in Vietnam from 1 July 1958 to 28 March 1973. Both the month of arrival and the month of departure from Vietnam were counted as whole months for credit toward the overseas service bar.
8. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) shows the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, was awarded the RVN Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation for the period October 1965-7 April 1970 during his assignment to the unit.
9. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3, paragraph 6d, states Department of the Army General Orders Number 8, dated 1974, announced award of the RVN Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation to Headquarters, U.S. Army Vietnam, and its subordinate units during the period 20 July 1965 to 28 March 1973.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. General orders awarded the FSM the BSM. Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show the BSM.
2. He was awarded the VSM and he participated in three campaigns while serving in Vietnam. Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show his already-awarded VSM with three bronze service stars.
3. His unit was awarded the RVN Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation and RVN Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation during his service with that unit in Vietnam. Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show these unit awards.
4. Special orders awarded him the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar. Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this qualification badge.
5. His overseas service qualified him for two overseas service bars. Therefore, it would be appropriate to show two overseas service bars on his DD Form 214.
6. In view of the foregoing, he is entitled to have his records corrected as shown below.
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. deleting the VSM and overseas service bar from the FSM's DD Form 214 and
b. adding the following awards to his DD Form 214:
* BSM
* VSM with three bronze service stars
* RVN Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation
* RVN Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation
* Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar
* two overseas service bars
_______ _ __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) AR20140000905
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20140000905
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