IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 25 August 2015
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150000833
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 his award of the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) and any other medals to which he is entitled be added to his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge).
2. The applicant states, in effect, that his award of the ARCOM was never entered on his DD Form 214. Additionally, he desires to have any other awards he is authorized added to his DD Form 214.
3. The applicant provides copies of his ARCOM citation and transmittal and his DD Form 214.
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 26 September 1966 for a period of 3 years. He completed his basic training at Fort Gordon, Georgia and his advanced individual training as a wireman at Fort Polk, Louisiana and was transferred to Fort Lee, Virginia for his first assignment.
3. On 1 May 1968, he was transferred to Vietnam for assignment to A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Artillery Regiment. He served in four campaigns and departed Vietnam on 28 April 1969. He was transferred to Oakland Army Base, California where he was honorably released from active duty (REFRAD) on 29 April 1969 as an overseas returnee. His DD Form 214 issued at the time of his REFRAD shows that he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal.
4. General Orders Number 1544 issued by Headquarters, U.S. Army Vietnam on 30 April 1969 awarded the applicant the ARCOM for meritorious service during the period April 1968 to April 1969.
5. 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 applicants unit was cited for the award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, and Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation during the period he served with the unit.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicant was awarded the ARCOM for meritorious service in Vietnam during the period April 1968 to April 1969 and is entitled to have that award added to his DD Form 214.
2. The applicant served in four campaigns in Vietnam 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.
3. The applicants unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, and Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation during his period of assignment. Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show those unit awards.
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:
* deleting the Vietnam Service Medal from his DD Form 214
* adding the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars, Army Commendation Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, and Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation to his DD Form 214
_______ _ __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) AR20150000833
3
ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150000833
3
ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090013984
IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 11 March 2010 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20090013984 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant's service records and his DD Form 214 show award of the ARCOM for meritorious service; there is no evidence he was awarded an ARCOM for valor. 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 Driver and Mechanic Badge with Mechanic Bar, the Expert Marksmanship...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100028316
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) with "V" Device. Therefore, his records should be corrected to show this unit award. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. deleting the ARCOM and Vietnam Service Medal from his DD Form 214 and b. adding the Army Commendation Medal with...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110024783
The applicant requests the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) and Bronze Star Medal (BSM) be added to his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) for the period ending 16 September 1969. The applicant states: * There is no record of his ARCOM or BSM * His ARCOM documentation does not show his correct SSN "XXX-XX-X332" 3. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. amending the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003084205C070212
The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 23 May 1967, for a period of two years. His DD Form 214 indicates he had 1 year, 11 months and 21 days of creditable service, and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and sharpshooter badges for the M-14 and M-16 rifle. Evidence shows the applicant was awarded the Good Conduct Medal for the period 23...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140012438
Item 38 (Record of Assignments) shows that during his tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam he served with 101st Administration Company, 101st Airborne Division, from 21 November 1968 to 2 November 1969. c. Item 41 (Awards, Decorations, and Campaigns) shows award of the following: * Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) * ARCOM * BSM * Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Campaign Medal with Device (1960) * Overseas Service Bars (2) * Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM) 4. As a result, the Board recommends that...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110010914
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show the following awards: * Air Medal (AM) * Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC) [2nd Award] * Bronze Star Medal (BSM) with "V" Device 2. The applicant's military records show he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 2 February 1968. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100025556
The applicant requests his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected to show he was awarded three Army Commendation Medals (ARCOM); one of which was an ARCOM with "V" device. Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 shows the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Purple Heart, Overseas Bar (2), and...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110009240
The applicant requests, in effect, the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) (Second Oak Leaf Cluster) with "V" Device, and Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) be added to his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge). As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by adding the CIB, ARCOM (Second Oak Leaf Cluster) with "V" Device and Air Medal to item 24 of his DD Form 214 and by...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120017162
General orders awarded the applicant the ARCOM for meritorious service during the period 1 November 1970 through 20 May 1971. Therefore, it would be appropriate at this time to award him the AGCM (1st Award) for the period 16 May 1968 through 15 May 1971 and to correct his DD Form 214 for the period ending 21 May 1971 to show this award. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. deleting from his DD Form 214...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120003649
He had served 1 year, 7 months, and 5 days of active service and his DD Form 214 issued at the time of his REFRAD shows that he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM). Accordingly, he should be awarded the AGCM (1st Award) for the period 11 January 1968 to 15 August 1969 and his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this award. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual...