APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That he be awarded the Purple Heart, 1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Clusters.

APPLICANT STATES:  That he was wounded in the eye by a bamboo stick during the Happy Valley Operation, October 1965 and by a punji stick in the right leg during the Ia-Drang Operation in October - November 1965.  He provides no supporting documentation.

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

He enlisted in the Regular Army on 26 April 1963.  He served three tours in Vietnam, from 17 August 1965 - 19 April 1966, 22 October 1967 - 16 October 1968 and 16 June 1970 - 6 May 1971, as an 11B (Infantryman).  He was awarded the Purple Heart on 12 February 1968 for fragment wounds in the face and forehead.

Army Regulation 672-5-l, then in effect, provided policy, criteria and administrative instructions concerning individual military decorations.  In pertinent part, it stated that a wound for which the award of the Purple Heart was made must have required treatment by a medical officer and records of medical treatment for wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record.

The applicant’s medical records are not available and the applicant has supplied no documentation, such as VA records or credible statements from witnesses, to show that he was wounded and received treatment from a medical officer for those wounds at the time.

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

2.  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

                       DENY APPLICATION

						Loren G. Harrell
						Director