PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:           

	BOARD DATE:                 7 July 1999 
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999017735

	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. Irene N. Wheelwright		Chairperson	
	Mr. James E. Anderholm		Member	
	Ms. Meta Waller		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 that the Purple Heart be added to his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge). 

3.  The applicant states that his DD Form 214 does not show his award of the Purple Heart.  In support of his application he submits a copy of an award certificate for the Purple Heart and a copy of his DD Form 214.

4.  The applicant’s military record show he was inducted on 10 June 1970 as a light weapons infantryman.  He served in Vietnam from 4 December 1970 to
13 February 1971 and was honorably discharged on 6 January 1972.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows the applicant was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Expert Qualification Badge M16 Rifle and the Expert Machine Gun M60.  His discharge document does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award.

6.  The applicant provides a copy of an award certificate, which shows that he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained on 3 February 1971.

7.  The Board notes that the applicant is entitled to the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).  

8.  There are no orders in the applicant’s personnel records, which show that he 
was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.  Records show he served as light weapons infantryman (11B) 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.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Infantryman Badge is awarded to infantry officers and to enlisted and warrant officer persons who have an infantry MOS.  They must have served in active ground combat while assigned or attached to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental or smaller size.  The Awards Branch of the Total Army Personnel Command has advised, in similar cases, that during the Vietnam era the Combat Infantryman Badge was awarded only to enlisted individuals who held and served in MOS 11B, 11C, 11F, 11G, or 11H.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 
3 February 1971.  Therefore, he is entitled to the correction of his military records to show this award.

2.  Evidence of record shows the applicant served as a light weapons infantryman (11B) while serving in Vietnam.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show that he was awarded the CIB. 

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 by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained on 3  February 1971 and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

BOARD VOTE:  

INW_____  JEA_____  MW____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Irene N. Wheelwright__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999017735	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990707	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19720106	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1. 61		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.