IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 9 July 2015
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20140020843
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 a portion of his earlier request for correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show the Distinguished Unit Citation (now known as the Presidential Unit Citation).
2. The applicant states he served with the 257th Signal Detachment during the action dated 5 December 1964 as described by the citation awarded to the unit.
3. The applicant provides:
* DD Form 214
* DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214)
* Page 1 of his 4-page DA Form 24 (Service Record)
* U.S. Army Reserve Honorable Discharge Certificate
* Department of the Army General Orders (DAGO) Number 34, dated 1966
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 AR20050006243, on 25 January 2006.
2. The applicant does not meet the two-tiered criteria for a request for reconsideration in that his request was not submitted within 1 year of the Board's original decision. However, he provides new evidence which, as a one-time exception to policy, will be considered by the Board.
3. The applicant's records show he enlisted in the Regular Army on 28 October 1963 and he held military occupational specialty 31Q (Aviation Electronic Equipment Repairer).
4. Special Orders (SO) Number 229, issued by Headquarters, U.S. Army Training Center, Fort Jackson, SC, on 17 December 1963, awarded him the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar.
5. He served in Vietnam from on or about 2 July 1964 to on or about 28 June 1965. He was assigned as follows:
* 4 July 1964 to 4 August 1964, 255th Signal Detachment
* 4 August 1964 to on or about 28 June 1965, 257th Signal Detachment
6. He was honorably released from active duty on 27 October 1966 and he was transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve Control Group (Reinforcement) to complete his remaining service obligations. His DD Form 214 shows he competed 3 years of active service and was awarded or authorized the:
* National Defense Service Medal
* Good Conduct Medal
* Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
7. On 2 June 2006, as a result of his petition to this Board, he was issued a DD Form 215 that added the Valorous Unit Award to his DD Form 214.
8. DAGO Number 34, dated 3 August 1966, announced award of the Presidential Unit Citation to the 121st Aviation Company and its attached units, including the 257th Signal Detachment, for extraordinary heroism in Vietnam on 5 December 1964.
9. DAGO Number 8, dated 1974, announced award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation to Headquarters, U.S. Military Assistance Command and its subordinate units during the period 8 February 1962 to 28 March 1973 and to Headquarters, U.S. Army Vietnam and its subordinate units during the period 20 July 1965 to 28 March 1973.
10. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states:
a. The Vietnam Service 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. Qualifying service included attachment to or assignment for 1 or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations. A bronze service star will be awarded for wear on the Vietnam Service Medal for participation in each campaign. Service members who earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for service in Vietnam between 1 July 1958 and 3 July 1965 may elect to receive the Vietnam Service Medal instead of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. However, no service member may be issued both medals for service in Vietnam.
b. The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960) was awarded by the Government of Vietnam to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States for qualifying service in Vietnam during the period 1 March 1961 through 28 March 1973. Qualifying service included assignment in Vietnam for 6 months or more. Qualifying service outside the geographical limits of the Republic of Vietnam required the individual to provide direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam and Armed Forces.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. GO awarded the applicant's unit in Vietnam the Presidential Unit Citation; therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this award.
2. GO award the applicant's unit in Vietnam the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation; therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this unit award.
3. SO awarded the applicant the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar; therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this badge.
4. The applicant served a qualifying period 0f service in Vietnam for award of the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device; therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this award.
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 amendment of the ABCMRs decision in Docket Number AR20050006243, dated 18 January 2006. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be further corrected by adding to his DD Form 214 the:
* Presidential Unit Citation
* Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation
* Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar
* Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device
_______ _ 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) AR20140020843
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20140020843
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