BOARD DATE:	  21 May 2015

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20140017793 


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 that he be authorized the bronze arrowhead device.

2.  The applicant states he should be authorized the bronze arrowhead device due to his assignment with Company A, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division.

3.  The applicant provides his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge).

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.  On 6 July 1966, he was inducted into the Army of the United States.  He completed basic combat and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupational specialty 11B (Light Weapons Infantryman).

3.  He served in the Republic of Vietnam from 21 May 1967 to 4 February 1968.  He was assigned to:

* Company A, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division as a rifleman from 4 June 1967 to 17 January 1968
* Medical Holding Detachment, 7th Field Hospital as a patient from 
18 January to 4 February 1968

4.  On 17 April 1968, he was released from active duty.  His DD Form 214 shows he is authorized the Vietnam Service Medal, but it does not show the bronze arrowhead.

5.  Department of the Army General Order (DAGO) 48, dated 14 October 1971, as amended by DAGO 18, dated 17 September 1979, announced units that were awarded assault landing credit for participating in an airborne assault in the vicinity of Katum, the Republic of Vietnam (Airborne) between 0900 and 0907 hours, inclusive on 22 February 1967.  The applicant's unit was not listed.

6.  DA Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists campaign participation credit, assault landing credit, unit citation emblems awarded during the Vietnam Conflict.  DAGO 48, 1971, as amended by DAGO 8, dated 1979 announced award of assault landing credits to participating units in an airborne assault in the vicinity of Katum, Republic of Vietnam, between the hours of 0900 and 0907, inclusive 22 February 1967.  The arrowhead is authorized for wear on the Vietnam Service Medal for this assault landing in Vietnam.  No other assaults are shown to be awarded assault landing credit during the Vietnam Conflict.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards.

	a.  Paragraph 6-9 states the arrowhead is a bronze replica of an Indian arrowhead 1/4-inch high.  It denotes participation in a combat parachute jump, helicopter assault landing, combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing, while assigned or attached as a member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission.  A Soldier must actually exit the aircraft or watercraft, as appropriate, to receive assault credit.  Individual assault credit is tied directly to the combat assault credit decision for the unit to which the Soldier is attached or assigned at the time of the assault.  Should a unit be denied assault credit, no assault credit will accrue to the individual Soldiers of that unit.  It is worn on the service and suspension ribbons of campaign and expeditionary medals including the Vietnam Service Medal.  Only one arrowhead will be worn on any ribbon.

	b.  Paragraph 7–23 states assault landing credit (award of the bronze arrowhead) may be made to units of the Army who, in the combat zone of a battle, campaign, or expedition as established by Joint Chiefs of Staff or DA, accomplishes one of the following types of assault operations:

		(1)  Makes a parachute jump into enemy-held territory as a part of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission.

		(2)  Participates in the assault waves of an amphibious landing on enemy-held territory.

		(3)  Makes a helicopter assault landing into enemy-held territory as a part of an organizational force carrying out an assigned tactical mission.

	c.  The assault operation will be of such scope as to warrant DA designation as a battle or campaign and be of such magnitude as to include tactical elements of at least one other Service.  The forces committed should be spearheading a major assault into enemy controlled territory.  The operation will be such that the committed forces will ultimately control the area in which they have landed and not rely on immediate link-up with other forces or extrication after a hit-and-run type of mission.  Day-to-day combat assault type missions in an already established combat zone do not qualify for award of the arrowhead device.  For the individual Soldier to receive award of the arrowhead, the Soldier must physically exit the aircraft or watercraft during the assault landing.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

The applicant's unit is not listed in either DAGO 48, dated 14 October 1971, or the amended DAGO 18, dated 17 September 1979.  The assault for which assault landing credit was awarded occurred on 22 February 1967, 3 months before he arrived in the Republic of Vietnam.  DA Pamphlet 672-3 does not show any other assaults being awarded assault landing credit during the Vietnam Conflict.  Therefore, there is no basis for authorizing him the bronze arrowhead.


BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__X______  ___X_____  __X__  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice.  Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.



      _______ _   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)                                         AR20140017793



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20140017793



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