ELIGIBILITY OF AGENCY PERSONNEL IN SAIGON FOR PURPLE HEART
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP84-00780R001400010069-3
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
S
Document Page Count:
9
Document Creation Date:
December 15, 2016
Document Release Date:
June 4, 2003
Sequence Number:
69
Case Number:
Publication Date:
March 15, 1966
Content Type:
MF
File:
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
CIA-RDP84-00780R001400010069-3.pdf | 580.25 KB |
Body:
Approved For Release 2'0'0'3'/08120-: CIA-RDP84-007
D D / S
(4
1GR: Acl Director of Personae
1 8 MAY 1966
It G I S " p
Du please bring this subject up to date
Col. White in the light of the new
SIGNED Alan M. Warfield
EEC-DD/S:VRT:ses (17 May 1966)
Distribution:
Orig - Adse
DD/S Subject w/Background
1 - DD/S Chrono
Background: Note from VRT to RLB via AMW dated 25 Mar 66
Memo for Ex. Dir. -Compt. from
Assoc. GC, dated 15 Mar 66 re Eligibility of Agency Personnel
in Saigon for Purple Heart (cc)
Xerox letter for Dep. Sec. of Def.' Cyrus R. Vance,
from U. Alexis Johnson, Undersec. of State, dated 15 Feb 66.
Xerox letter for U. A. Johnson from C. R.. Vance dated
3 Mar 66.
STATINT
Approved For Release 2003/08/20 : CIA-RDP84-00780 R001400010069-3
ADMINISTRATIVE.- INTERNAL USE ONLY
Approved For.Release 2003/08/20: CIA-RDP84-007fWWRA4?gg, 0069-3
STATINTL
Attached is the latest correspondence on
granting the Purple Heart to civilians. Dick
eels that individual cases should be
written up for consideration by the Department
of Defense buti and other members
of the Honor and Merit Awards Board disagree.
They feel that Secretary Vance's response to
State (attached) in effect closes out the matter
of granting the Purple Heart to civilians.
Bob wants to talk with Emmett Echols
about this when he returns next week, and I
suggest they brief you and Colonel White on
this subject.
As you know, the Department of State
had plans for developing a new award which
would be similar to the Purple Heart and the
Honor and Merit Awards Board has proposed
a special award of this kind for Agency
personnel. I assume our award will be
approved, but according to the attached
State Department letter a good deal of time
will be required for them to develop a new
award.
If you wish, I will talk with Emmett
and Bob about this next week and set up a,
meeting for them to brief you on their feelings , !
with regard to presentation of individual cases
to Defense.
Approved For Release 2003/08/20 : CIA-R00780R001400010069-3
T
Approved For Release 2003/08/286 DP84-00780R001400010069 3
OOC 66-0567
15 MAR 1966
MEMORANDUM FOR: Executive Director -Comptroller
SUBJECT: Eligibility of Agency Personnel in Saigon
for Purple Heart
1. Attached is a copy of the exchange of correspondence of
February 15 and March 3, respectively, between Deputy Under
Secretary of State U. Alexis Johnson and Deputy Secretary of Defense
Cyrus Vance, forwarded to us by State. (Also attached is a copy of
AR 672-5-1.) The Deputy Secretary's reply is that civilian personnel
are ineligible for the Purple Heart unless they are actually "serving
under competent authority in any capacity with an armed force" of the
United States. His quotation is from the Executive Order. He does
not comment further on this point. This leaves the matter, it seems
to me, one of determining in each case whether any employee was
serving under competent authority with an armed force.
2. 1 am forwarding copies of this correspondence to
the DDP member of the Honor and Merit Awards Board,
and to Emmett Echols, Chairman of the Board. They may want to
ascertain the facts as to each employee. Perhaps the appropriate
action now is for the Agency to review these cases, having in mind
the language of the Executive Order and the command structure and
functions of the U. S. authorities in Saigon, and to recommend to the
Pentagon the Purple Heart for any employee who, in the judgment of
this Agency, is eligible under the language of the Executive Order.
25X1
25X1
Attachments
cc: I
~~, 1
/08/20 : C - ,4-00780R00 400?7@O69m33C
Approved For Relea?e 2003/08/20 : CIA-RDP84-00780 R001400010069-3
I,!>IITZD OFFICIAL USE
Dear Cy:
A proposal has been received from Saigon to the effect
that the Purple Heart'should be granted.to civilian enm3~yces-
of the U.S. Government in youth Viet 1 am who suffer injury
or death as the result of hostile action. Both Arab-aszador
Lodge and General Westmoreland endorse the use of the Pu p3.e
Heart: in Viet kvar;.. !rci';assador Lodge makes. the point that
it is a much better medal for the purpose than any na-w device
that tuight be invented.
his poj.nt is. pertinent, because the Department of State
has ,beer thinking in terts of 'a" new and separate, medal for
U.S. civilians killed or wounded in any foreign country as
the result of attacks against the United States, its iiilitary
forces, its citizens, or its property and premises. In view
of the special nature of the Vietnamese situation and the
length of time required to develop a new award, the Departnzrnt
of State, now agrees with the Embassy at Saigon in the use
of the Purple Heart for civilian eraaloyees of the U.S.:
Government in South Viet Nam.
It t1 s conce iv b? e that the combined d irecti n of, the
diplomatic and military programs at Saigon, and the close
relationship of the politI,Cal, militexy, and economic
activities throughout the country might provide the basis
`he Honorable
. Cyrus R. Vance,
puty Secretary of Defense,
Roots 3E92a,
The Pentagon.
LI1v1i^D OFFICIAL US.
FEB151261
for an/ .
Approved For Release 2063/08/20: CIA-RDP84-00780 R001400610069-3
Approved For Release 2003/08/20 : CIA-RDP84-00780 R001400010069-3
O PICIAL USE
for an interpretation by this D'a- Partzr nt of 1`e sense of
paragraph 34 of R. 672-5-3. to cover all U.S. civilian
employees. If so, the Department. of .Sate favors such
an interpretation in. con ction with Viet !-z am, arid would
concur in. any instruction that the .uric n;: of 1 fense
We should also 1':.ke to explore the eligibility, for
the Purple Heart of U.S. citizens who are privately
employed by U. S. firi:us carrying on Vietnamese operations
solely under U. S. Goverame.rt contracts. The close support
wen to U.S. Gover r. nt programc by these companies
might qualify their Amer can employees as potential
recipients, especially if they are "Or
Ming functions
which would otherwise have to be conducted by U. S. military
personnel or U. S. Cover rent euplovoe:3,
In as:,tch as there are already sevdral instances of
injury and death to U.S. citizens, both Goverx'ent
employees and contractors' persor.n 1, I would very much
appreciate your early rosponae.
Sincerely,
.): :+T'.MITED O".'FICIE:L USE.
Approved For Release 2003/08/20 :.CIA-RDP84-00780 R001400010069-3
A. O R ~k
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301
MAR 3 1966
Approved For Release 2003/08/20 : CIA-RDP84-00780R001400010069-3
Honorable U. Alexis Johnson
Deputy Under Secretary of State
y;ashington, D. C. 20520
This is in response to your letter of February 15, 1966 proposing that
the Purple Heart be awarded to all civilian employees of the U.S. Govc,n
Lent, and of U.S. firms carrying on operations solely under U.S. Govern-
r.nt contracts, in South Vietnam who suffer injury or death as the result
of hostile action.
Eligibility for the Purple Heart is prescribed in Executive Order 11016,
"Authorizing Award of the Purple Heart," dated 25 April 1952, in part,
as follows:
"The Secretary of a military department, . . . shall, in the
name of the President of the United States,' award the' Purple
Heart, . . . to any member of an armed force under 'the juris-
diction of that Department and any civilian,. national of the
United States, who, while serving under competent authority in
any capacity with an armed force of the department has been,
or ms.y, hereafter be wounded has been, or may hereafter be
"(a) In any action against an enemy of the United States;
"(b) In any action with an opposing armed force of a for-
eign country in which the armed forces of the United Mates are
or have been engaged;
"(c) While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged
in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which
the United States is not a belligerent party;
"(d) As the result of an act of any such enemy or oppos-
ing force; or
"(e) As the result of an act of any hostile foreign
force."
It would therefore require an amendment to Executive Order 11016 to ex-
tend eligibility for the Purple Heart to include civilian employees of
the U.S. Government, or.to U.S. citizens who are privately employed by
U.S. firms cariying,,,;on Vietnamese operations solely under.U.S. Governa-
ment contracts, unless they are actuall:r "serving under'*compeLen:tt au-
thority in any capacity with an armed force."
Approved For Release 2003/08/20 CIA-RDP84-0078OR001400010069-3
Approved For Release 2003/08/20 : CIA-RDP84-00780R001400010069-3
Sincerely,
a -uvz'vwc- .. ._
Me Department of Defense does not, E,t this tirue, have a coordinated po-
sition concerning the larger question posed by your letter. That is,
whether or not it would be desirable to award this oldest of the mili-
tary decorations to U.S. civilians killed or wounded in any foreign
country as -the result of attacks aga3.nst the United States, its military
forces, its citizens, or its property and premises, or even to certain
U.S,, citizens involved in the-.current operations in South Vietnam.
I have requested -co ants from the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the L' Li li-
ta.xy Departments. I will inform you of our recommendation in the matter
at ar. early date.
Approved For Release 2003/08/20: CIA-RDP84-00780 R001400010069-3
Approved For Release 2003/08/20 : CIA-RDP84-00780 R001400010069-3
-5 November-1962
United States who, after 6 December
1941, has been cited in orders or awarded
a certificate for exemplary conduct in
ground combat against an armed enemy
-between 7 December 1941 and 2 Septem-
ber 1945, inclusive, or whose meritorious
achievement has been otherwise confirmed
by documents executed prior to 1 July
1947. For this purpose, an award of the
Combat Infantryman Badge or Medical
Badge is considered as a citation in or-
ders. Documents executed since 4 August
1944 in connection with recommendations
for the award of decorations of higher
degree than the Bronze Star Medal will
not be used as the basis for an award
under the provisions of this paragraph.
32. Air Medal. The Air Medal, established
by Executive Order 9158 (amended by Execu-
tive Order 9242-A, 11 September 1942) (WD Bul.
49, 1942), is awarded to any person who, while
serving in any .capacity in or with the Army of
.the United States, shall have distinguished lum-
self by meritorious achievement while participat-
ing in aerial flight (fig. 1). Awards may be made
to recognize single acts of merit or sustained opera-
tional activities, against. an armed enemy, or for
heroism not . involving combat. The required
achievement; while of lesser degree than that re-
quired for the,award of the Distinguished Flying
,Cross, must,nevertheless have been accomplished
with distinction beyond that normally. expected.
x-33. Army Commendation Medal. The
Army Commendation Medal established by the
Secretary of War on 18 December 1945, and
amended in ' Department of the Army General
Orders .10, 1960, is awarded. to any member of the
Armed Forces of the United States who, while
serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 De-
cember 1941,'sh 1 have distinguished himself by
'meritorious achievement or meritorious service
(fig. 1).
a. The required meritorious achievement or
meritorious service while of lesser degree than that
required for. the award of the Legion of Merit
must nevertheless have been accomplished with
distinction and must have been of the same degree
as required fo'r the award of the Bronze Star
Medal or-A.irMledal. To qualify, the achievement
of the individual should have been of such magni-
Approved For Release 2003/08/20 : CIA-RDP84-00780R001400010069 3
AR 672-5-1
C2
tri