Search Decisions

Decision Text

ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140003354
Original file (20140003354 .txt) Auto-classification: Approved

		IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  7 October 2014

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20140003354 


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 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show he was awarded or authorized the Valorous Unit Award (VUA) and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation. 

2.  The applicant states he was unaware his unit had been awarded these awards.

3.  The applicant provides a copy of the orders that awarded his unit the VUA.

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 enlisted in the Regular Army on 19 February 1968 for a period of 3 years.  He served in four campaigns in Vietnam from 13 July 1968 to 6 July 1969 while assigned to the 299th Engineer Battalion.  

3.  He was honorably released from active duty on 18 February 1971.  His       DD Form 214 shows he was awarded or authorized the:

* Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award)
* National Defense Service Medal
* Vietnam Service Medal
* Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960)
* Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar

4.  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 the 299th Engineer Battalion, during the period in which the applicant was assigned, was cited for award of the VUA, for actions during the period 9 May 1969 to 1 July 1969, by Department of the Army General Orders Number 43, dated 1970.

5.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3, paragraph 6d, states that Department of the Army General Orders Number 8, dated 1974, announced award of the Republic of Vietnam 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.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states a bronze service star, based on qualifying service for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation, will be worn on the appropriate service medal.  In this case it is the Vietnam Service Medal.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant served in four campaigns and is entitled to wear four bronze service stars on his already awarded Vietnam Service Medal and to have them added to his DD Form 214.

2.  Additionally, his unit was awarded the VUA and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation during the period in which he was assigned.  Therefore, he is entitled to have those awards added to his DD Form 214.


BOARD VOTE:

____X____  ___X_____  ___X____  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

1. 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 amending his DD Form 214 to delete the Vietnam Service Medal and add the following individual and unit awards:

* Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars
* Valorous Unit Award
* Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation

2.  The Board wants the applicant and all others to know that the sacrifices he made in service to the United States during the Vietnam War are deeply appreciated.  The applicant and all Americans should be justifiably proud of his service in arms.



      _______ _   __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)                                         AR20140003354





3


ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


1

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20140003354



2


ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


1

Similar Decisions

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140003354

    Original file (20140003354.txt) Auto-classification: Approved

    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 or authorized the Valorous Unit Award (VUA) and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3, paragraph 6d, states that Department of the Army General Orders Number 8, dated 1974, announced award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation to Headquarters, U.S. Army...

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060006431C070205

    Original file (20060006431C070205.doc) Auto-classification: Denied

    The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Presidential Unit Citation. Records show the applicant should have discovered the alleged errors now under consideration on 2 September 1969; therefore, the time for the applicant to file a request for correction of any error expired on 1 September 1972. Therefore, the Board requests that the CMSD-St. Louis administratively correct the records of the individual concerned to show that...

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130018735

    Original file (20130018735.txt) Auto-classification: Approved

    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 Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM), Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM), Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-16), and any other awards to which he may be entitled. The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. ____________X_____________ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the...

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100000063

    Original file (20100000063.txt) Auto-classification: Approved

    The applicant requests, in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show he is entitled to the following unit awards for his service in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN): Army Presidential Unit Citation, Army Valorous Unit Award, Army Meritorious Unit [Commendation], RVN Presidential Unit Citation, RVN Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, and possibly others. The applicant's request for correction of his DD Form 214 to show...

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110012206

    Original file (20110012206.txt) Auto-classification: Approved

    The applicant requests that his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected to show two awards of the Valorous Unit Award (VUA). After serving in four campaigns, he departed Vietnam on 11 October 1968 for assignment to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas for duty as a military policeman. The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief.

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130003428

    Original file (20130003428.txt) Auto-classification: Approved

    The applicant provides: * General Orders Number 1048, issued by Headquarters, U.S. Army Vietnam, dated 4 May 1970 * DAGO Number 5, dated 27 January 1969 * DAGO Number 59, dated 25 September 1969 * Special Orders Number 206, issued by Seventh Army Support Command, dated 19 September 1967 * Certificate of Combat Service, undated * Certificate of Appreciation, dated 18 September 1970 * page 1 of his DA Form 2-1 (Personnel Qualification Record – Part II) * his DD Form 214 * his National Guard...

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001065087C070421

    Original file (2001065087C070421.rtf) Auto-classification: Approved

    This medal is awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States for qualifying service in Vietnam after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973. Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his military records to show this unit award. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Valorous Unit Award, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, the Vietnam...

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120012046

    Original file (20120012046.txt) Auto-classification: Approved

    The applicant provides: * an Operational Report * two DA Forms 1 (Morning Reports) * two pages of a Standard Form (SF) 600 (Health Record) * a memorandum * two DD Forms 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record), dated 9 March 2011 and 5 February 2012, with allied documents (original request) * a statement from his former battalion surgeon * a statement from a former unit member * a Certificate awarding the Purple Heart to another individual * two DD Forms 214 (Armed Forces of the...

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120009848

    Original file (20120009848.txt) Auto-classification: Approved

    Records show he participated in three campaigns during his assignment in Vietnam. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states a bronze service star is worn on the appropriate service ribbon for each credited campaign, to include the Vietnam Service Medal. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by adding the PUC, VUA, MUC, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, and three bronze service...

  • ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060005177C070205

    Original file (20060005177C070205.doc) Auto-classification: Approved

    The available evidence shows that the applicant was awarded the GCMDL on 1 February 1969, and that he participated in four campaigns in Vietnam and thus is authorized to wear four bronze service stars on his already- awarded VSM. The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief and to excuse failure to timely file. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected...