2.  The applicant requests that his DD Form 214 be corrected to show he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Air Medal, four bronze service stars for the Vietnam Service Medal, the Valorous Unit Award and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.

3.  The applicant’s military records show he was inducted into the Army on       20 June 1967, was honorably discharged and immediately reenlisted in the Regular Army on 26 June 1967.  He served in Vietnam in the 71st Aviation Company, 14th Combat Aviation Battalion from 11 January 1969 - 25 January 1970 as an airframe repairman.

4.  The applicant served in Vietnam through four campaigns – Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase VI, TET ‘69 Counteroffensive, Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 and Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970.

5.  On 5 September 1969, the applicant was awarded the “Air Medal (second through twelfth oak leaf clusters).”

6.  The 71st Aviation Company was awarded the Valorous Unit Award for the period 11 - 31 August 1969 and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm for the period 24 August - 31 December 1969.

7.  The applicant’s medical records are not available.  He submits statements from two individuals assigned with him in the 71st Aviation Company.  Both individuals verify that he was wounded in the arm by shrapnel fragment(s).  One individual states he managed to treat and dress the wound after the all clear was given.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 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, the wound must have required treatment by a medical officer, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.

9.  That regulation also provides that numerals (not oak leaf clusters) starting with 2 will be used to denote second and subsequent awards of the Air Medal.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence in the applicant’s records show he was awarded the Air Medal; that he did serve through four campaigns while in Vietnam; that his unit was awarded the Valorous Unit Award and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm while he was assigned to it; and that he is also authorized to wear the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

2.  The applicant has supplied credible evidence that he was wounded in action. 

3.  In view of the foregoing, it would be proper to correct the applicant’s records as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army Records pertaining to this case be corrected to show the individual is entitled to award of the Purple Heart.

2.  That block 24 of the applicant’s DD Form 214 be corrected to show he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Air Medal (numeral 12), the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and the Valorous Unit Award.

BOARD VOTE:

                       GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

                       GRANT FORMAL HEARING

                       DENY APPLICATION

                                                                         
    CHAIRPERSON