PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           12 August 1999        
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1998012966

	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. Gale Thomas		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. James M. Alward		Member	
	Ms. Meta Waller		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 sister of a former service member requests that her brother’s records be corrected by showing he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal.  

3.  The former service member’s sister states that her brother’s Report of Separation indicates he was awarded the Purple Heart.  In support of her request she submits a copy of his honorable discharge, his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation), and a letter from the Reserve Personnel Center authorizing the issuance of six additional awards.  

4.  The former service member’s military records were likely lost or destroyed during the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center.  Information contained herein was reconstructed from alternative sources, including information provided by the former service members’ sister.

5.  The former service member’s DD Form 214 (Report of Separation) indicates he was honorably discharged on 4 September 1945 after serving 3 years, 7 month and 1 day of active Federal service, and reflects that he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The former service members DD Form 214, clearly shows that he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal, and in the absence of evidence to the contrary, he should be awarded the medal.  

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 validating and directing the issuance of the Purple Heart Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

__rvo___  __jma___  __mw____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1998012966	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990812	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1. 107.00		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.