PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                  17 June 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:         AR1999016716

	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. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Jennifer L. Prater		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas A. Pagan		Member	
	Mr. Ernest W. Lutz, Jr.		Member	

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

	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 award of the Purple Heart.

3.  The applicant states that he was awarded the Purple Heart on or about February 1970.  He also states that he received the citation and medal; however, it was never recorded his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge).

4.  The applicant’s military records show he was inducted on 6 March 1969 and served as an armored reconnaissance specialist.  He served in Vietnam from 3 August 1969 to 4 August 1970 and was honorably discharged on 26 March 1971.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 device and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

6.  The applicant’s DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows that he received a fragmentation wound to his left leg on 16 February 1970 while serving in Vietnam.

7.  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, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows the applicant received a fragmentation wound to his left leg on 16 February 1970 while serving in Vietnam.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his military records to show that he was 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 showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart for a fragmentation wound to his left leg on 16 February 1970 while serving in Vietnam.

BOARD VOTE:  

JLP_____  TAP_____  EWL____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Jennifer L. Prater____
		CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999016716	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	1990617	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19710326	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1. 61		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.