MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:.

	BOARD DATE:            29 April 1999     
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1998013558

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration 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:

	Ms.  Ann M. Campbell		Chairperson	
	Mr. Edwin S. Castle		Member	
	Mr. Christopher J. Prosser		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

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

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That his records be corrected by showing that he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal.

APPLICANT STATES:  That he was injured with shrapnel while serving in Vietnam, and that it was removed in the field by a Dr. King.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

On 18 January 1966, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army for a period of    3 years.  Once the applicant completed basic and advanced individual training he was sent to Vietnam.

The applicant’s Separation Physical dated 17 December 1968, does not indicate that the applicant received any wounds or injuries as a result of hostile action.

On 17 January 1969, the applicant was honorably discharges in the pay grade of E-3.  His awards include the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Army Regulation 600-08-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as a result of hostile action.  Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify that the wound was the result of hostile action, he wound must have required treatment by a medical officer, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.

2.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy the aforementioned requirement.

3.  Other than his own statement there is no indication from the available records to show that the applicant was ever recommended for the Purple Heart.

4.  There is no evidence in the available records nor did the applicant provide documentation to substantiate his claim that he was injured while serving in Vietnam.

5.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

___amc__  ___esc__  ___cjp__  DENY APPLICATION

						Loren G. Harrell
						Director

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1998013558	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990429	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR .  .  .  .  .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1. 107.00		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.