PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:        4 November 1998       
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-11199

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Ms. Deborah L. Brantley		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. James E. Vick		Chairperson	
	Mr. Luther L. Santiful		Member	
	Mr. Thomas N. Kuhn		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including advisory opinion, 
 	if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests award of the Purple Heart.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty in 1942 and arrived in the Asiatic/Pacific Theater of Operations in October 1944.  On 25 April 1945 he sustained a gunshot wound to his abdomen as a result of hostile actions and was ultimately released from active duty, on 10 August 1945, with a certificate of disability.  Although his separation document notes his combat wound there is no evidence he was ever awarded the Purple Heart.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action and as such is entitled to the Purple Heart.

2.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the individual concerned the Purple Heart for wounds sustained as a result of hostile action on 25 April 1945.

BOARD VOTE:  

__JEV___  __LLS__  __TNK___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON