PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           29 September 1999                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999018368

	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	
	Mrs. Nancy Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas A. Pagan		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 his WD AGO Form 53-55, Report of Separation, be corrected to reflect the award of the Purple Heart.

3.  The applicant states that he was wounded in July 1943 in New Georgia and evacuated to a field hospital in Guadacanal.  He provides a copy of a Western Union telegram, his Report of Separation and his Separation Qualification Record as supporting evidence.

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost of destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire in 1973.  The information contained herein was obtained from alternate sources.

5.  The applicant was inducted into the Army on 16 May 1942.  He arrived in the Asian-Pacific Theater of Operations on 22 October 1942 where he served as a rifleman.  A Western Union telegram dated 20 July 1943 informed his mother he had been seriously wounded in action on 10 July 1943.  He returned from overseas on 6 August 1945 and separated on 3 October 1945.  His Separation Qualification Record shows he was wounded in the leg in the battle of New Georgia.  His Report of Separation shows he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Asian-Pacific Theater of Operations Medal and the Lapel Button.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides policy and criteria concerning individual military decorations.  In pertinent part, it states that the Purple Heart is awarded to any member of an Armed Force who has been wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States.  The wound 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.

7.  On 19 May 1999, the National Personnel Records Center authorized issuance of the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Honorable Service Lapel Button World War II and the Sharpshooter Badge with rifle bar to the applicant.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board concludes that there is sufficient evidence to show the applicant was seriously wounded in battle, believes he was medically treated for his wound, and is therefore entitled to award of the Purple Heart.

2.  The Board also notes that the applicant has been authorized issuance of several other medals/awards that do not appear on his Report of Separation.

3.  In view of the foregoing, it would be in the interest of justice to correct the applicant’s records as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by:

     a.  showing the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart;

     b.  amending the applicant’s Report of Separation to add the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Sharpshooter Badge with rifle bar; and

     c.  amending the applicant’s Report of Separation to show he was wounded in the leg on 10 July 1943.

BOARD VOTE:  

__fne___  __tap___  ___mw___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			Fred N. Eichorn
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999018368	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	19990929	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.	110.04	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.