PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:   14 October 1998            
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-10767

	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 his military records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart.  He states he sustained a shrapnel wound to the left side of his head when a North Korean grenade exploded on 9 September 1950 while in Korea.  In support of his request he submits several statements, including a 1951 statement from his former platoon leader certifying the applicant was wounded as a s result of hostile action on the date in question.

3.  Records indicate he entered active duty in July 1948 and served as an infantryman in Japan and Korea between December 1948 and July 1951.  An original certificate, dated 29 June 1951, authenticated by the applicant’s former platoon leader confirms the applicant was “wounded over the left ear by shrapnel in the vicinity of Tague, Korea” on 9 September 1950.  The applicant’s wound is confirmed in several subsequent physical examination records.

4.  The applicant remained on active duty until 1969 when he was retired for length of service with 20 years of active Federal service.  There is no evidence he was ever awarded a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in Korea.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms that the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action while in Korea and as such should be awarded the Purple Heart.

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 awarding the individual concerned the Purple Heart for wounds sustained on 9 September 1950 while in Korea.

BOARD VOTE:  

_JNS__  ___EMW__  __RWG__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON