PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:       14 October 1998        
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-10404

	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. John N. Slone			Chairperson	
	Mr. Ernest M. Willcher			Member	
	Mr. Robert W. Garrett			Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	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)

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 that item 29 (wounds received as a result of action with enemy forces) on his DD Form 214 be corrected to reflect that he was wounded at “Yonchon” Korea vice “Yonuhan.”  He also asks that his records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant had more than 3 years of military service prior to being called to active duty from an inactive status on 
3 October 1950.  He served 8 months and 10 days in Korea where he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, a Silver Star and the Korean Service Medal.  On 7 July 1951 he was wounded as a result of hostile actions and was hospitalized for approximately 45 days.

4.  On 1 February 1952 the applicant was released from active duty.  Although his separation document confirms he was wounded (as does information contained in files maintained by the Office of the Surgeon General) it does not reflect entitlement to the Purple Heart.  Item 29 (wounds) on his separation document indicates the injury occurred at Yonuhan, Korea.

5.  Although the applicant did not present any evidence which confirmed the misspelling of the Korean village where he was wounded, a search of a variety of available sources confirmed no listing for “Yonuhan” Korea although Yonchon, Korea could be located.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record confirms the applicant was wounded on 7 July 1951 as a result of hostile action and as such is entitled to award of the Purple Heart.

2.  While there is no evidence to support the applicant’s contention that he was wounded at Yonchon and not Yonuhan, Korea the fact that the Board was unable to verify the existence of Yonuhan, Korea but was able to verify the location of Yonchon, Korea tends to support his contention.  It is highly likely that the location name was misspelled at the time the applicant’s separation document was prepared which would have been nearly a year after his injury.

3.  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:

	a.  By awarding the individual concerned the Purple Heart for wounds sustained as a result of hostile action on 7 July 1951 while in Korea; and

	b.  By correcting item 29 (wounds) on his separation report to reflect that he was wounded at Yonchon, Korea vice Yonuhan, Korea.

BOARD VOTE:  

JNS____  EMW_____  RWG___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON