PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:          2 December 1998     
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-11760

	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. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. George D. Paxson		Member	
	Mr. John H. Kern		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.  He states he was wounded while in Korea and that the wound is confirmed in item 29 (wounds received in action) on his separation document.

3.  Records indicate the applicant entered active duty on 8 October 1948 and served 19 months overseas where he was awarded the Korean Service Medal and an Occupation Medal for Japan.  His original service medical records confirm he sustained a shrapnel wound to his right knee on 7 September 1950 near Wongdok, Korea from an enemy mortar shell.  There is no indication he was ever awarded the Purple Heart although in 1984 officials at the Army Reserve Personnel Center in St. Louis authorized issuance of the Purple Heart medal.

4.  On 29 May 1952 the applicant was released from active duty.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms the applicant was wounded on 7 September 1950 as a result of hostile action and as such is entitled to award of 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 on 7 September 1950 as a result of hostile action in Korea.

BOARD VOTE:  

__rvo___  __gdp___  __jhk___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON