RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-04789 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Purple Heart (PH) Medal. APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He sustained an injury when he was thrown from the back of the vehicle during a mortar attack in Vietnam in 1969. He was airlifted from his base due to his injury, but never received his PH. He did not apply for the PH before this because, like many Vietnam Veterans, he felt disrespected and wanted to put that part of his life behind him. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant initially entered the Regular Air Force on 11 Aug 67. According to the documentation submitted by the applicant, on 13 Aug 69, he was issued a DA Form 3349, Medical Condition—Physical Profile Record, which listed “Sacralization, fifth lumbar vertebra,” and returned him to duty with some limitations. On 10 Aug 71, the applicant was furnished an honorable discharge, and was credited with four years of active service. On 3 Feb 15, AFPC/DPSIDR directed the applicant’s DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to change “VSM” to read “Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars (VSM w/2BSS),” and to add the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/P). The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are contained in the memorandum prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility (OPR), which is attached at Exhibit C. AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice. The Purple Heart (PH) award is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who have been wounded, killed, or who have died or may hereafter die of wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States or opposing force as a result of an act of any such enemy or opposing armed force, an international terrorist attack or during military operations while serving as a part of a peacekeeping force. A wound for which the award is made must have required treatment, not merely examination, by a medical officer. A thorough review of the applicant’s records does not indicate he was recommended for or awarded the PH, and he did not submit any such documentation with his application. The Purple Heart Review Board has the authority, on behalf of the Secretary of the Air Force, to determine a veteran’s qualifications for award of the PH. The applicant has not submitted a request to the Purple Heart Review Board and, as written, this application lacks a detailed account of what happened, to include a description of the injury, the date of the injury, an eyewitness statement, and appropriate medical documentation from the date of the injury. There are references in the applicant’s official medical records which indicate he suffered from back pain over a long period of time beginning as early as 1968, a reference from 17 Jun 69 stating he “reinjured back Sat in mortar attack,” and subsequent entries months later in which he refers back to a truck accident, and then later to “being thrown from a vehicle” in Vietnam in May 69. Therefore, the information in his file is conflicting as to whether or not his injury was combat or non-combat related. Insufficient information has been provided to award the PH. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C. APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 25 Feb 15, for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). As of this date, no response has been received by this office. THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1.  The applicant has not exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2.  The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 2.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. In this respect, we note this Board is the highest administrative level of appeal within the Air Force. As such, an applicant must first exhaust all available avenues of administrative relief provided by existing law or regulations prior to seeking relief before this Board, as required by the governing Air Force Instruction. The Air Force office of primary responsibility has reviewed this application and indicated there is an available avenue of administrative relief the applicant has not first pursued. In view of this, we find this application is not ripe for adjudication at this level as there exists a subordinate level of appeal that has not first been depleted. Therefore, in view of the above, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application. THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the application was denied without a personal appearance; and the application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application. The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2014-04789 in Executive Session on 11 Aug 15, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: Panel Chair Member Member The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 17 Nov 14, w/atchs. Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPSID, dated 3 Feb 15. Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 25 Feb 15.