Official military personnel files including active duty health records, clinical records and medical treatment records are the primary holdings at NPRC (MPR).
Official military personnel files (OMPF) including the active duty record (includes outpatient, dental, and mental health
treatment).
Clinical (hospital inpatient) records created for military personnel while on active duty.
Medical treatment records for military retirees, dependents, and others created at military health care facilities (includes inpatient, outpatient, dental, and mental health treatment).
Other records at NPRC include:Morning Reports and Unit Rosters, Philippine Army and Guerrilla Records.
Frequently requested records which are not at NPRC (MPR). ********* National Personnel Records Center (St. Louis, MO)
The 1973 Fire
On July 12, 1973, a disastrous fire at NPRC (MPR) destroyed approximately 16-18 million Official Military Personnel Files. The affected record collections are described below.
Branch Personnel and Period Affected Estimated Loss Army Personnel discharged November 1, 1912, to
January 1, 1960 80% Air Force Personnel discharged, September 25, 1947, to January 1, 1964 (with names alphabetically after Hubbard, James E.) 75%
No duplicate copies of the records that were destroyed in the fire were maintained, nor was a microfilm copy ever produced. There were no indexes created prior to the fire. In addition, millions of documents had been lent to the Department of Veterans Affairs before the fire occurred. Therefore, a complete listing of the records that were lost is not available. Nevertheless, NPRC (MPR) uses many alternate sources in its efforts to reconstruct basic service information to respond to requests. Alternate Record Sources
Info on REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM GALLANTRY CROSS
Info on REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM GALLANTRY CROSS
Near as I can tell... all who served in Vietnam are auth...
a search of most search engines such as www.google.com will bring up quite a few mentions of this....
1. Description: A Gold color medal, 1 3/8 inches in width, consisting of a wreath superimposed by two crossed scimitars saltirewise and a Maltese cross. In the center of the Maltese cross a disc with an outline of the country of Vietnam between two palm sprigs joined at the bottom and a scroll overall inscribed "QUOC-GIA LAO-TUONG" (Reward of the State).
2. Ribbon: The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the following stripes: 3/8 inch Old Glory Red 67156; center 5/8 inch Golden Yellow 67104 with 16 strands of Old Glory Red; and 3/8 inch Old Glory Red.
3. Criteria: a. U.S. Military units were individually cited for award of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross; however, the Vietnamese Government issued the award to
all units subordinate to Military Assistance Command (MACV) during the period 8 February 1962 and 28 March 1973 and to U.S. Army Vietnam and its subordinate units for the period 20 July 1965 to 28 March 1973. This permits all personnel who served in Vietnam to wear the RVN Gallantry Cross unit citation.
b. The medal was awarded by the Vietnam Government to military personnel who have accomplished deeds of valor or displayed heroic conduct while fighting the enemy and have been cited individually at the regiment, brigade, division, corps, or armed forces level.
4. Components: The following are authorized components of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross:
a. Medal (regular size): Not issued. Available commercially.
b. Medal (miniature size): Not issued. Available commercially.
c. Ribbon: MIL-R-11589/173. Commercially available.
d.
Streamers: Awarded to cited units. Inscription is as indicated on the unit's lineage and honors. Requisition in accordance with Chapter 9, Army Regulation (AR) 840-10.
e. Unit Award: Commercially available.
5. Background: a. The RVN Gallantry Cross was established by the Vietnam Government by Decree No. 74-b/Qt, dated 15 August 1950 and Decree No. 96/DQT/HC, dated 2 May 1952. Authorization for all U.S. Army personnel was confirmed in HDQA General Orders No. 8, dated 19 March 1974.
b. Only one emblem (with palm) will be worn regardless of the number of times the unit was awarded the RVN Gallantry Cross. The Army initially authorized the wear of a fourragere by letter AGPB-AC, Subject: Wear of Vietnamese Unit Awards by U.S. Army Personnel, dated 11 February 1969, for units which had been awarded the RVN Gallantry Cross with palm on two or more
occasions. Department of the Army message 111030Z April 1974, established the policy that only one emblem was authorized, thus precluding the wear of the Vietnamese fourrageres which represented multiple awards.
