MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:            25 August 1999                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999019460

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

	Mr. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Mr. W. E. Schnupp		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Luther L. Santiful		Chairperson	
	Mr. Lester Echols		Member	
	Mr. Allen L. Raub		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	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)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  In effect, that he be awarded the Purple Heart.

APPLICANT STATES:  That he never received a Purple Heart when he was medically evacuated in Vietnam because of a combat injury.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

He was inducted on 19 May 1970 and received training as a light weapons infantryman.  He served 1-year in Vietnam and was honorably released to the USAR on 5 January 1972 after completing 1 year, 7 months and 17 days of active service.

His awards include the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Expert Badge with rifle bar.

Neither the applicant’s DD Form 214, Report of Separation, nor his MPRJ contain an entry showing that he was awarded a Purple Heart.  Similarly, the record contains no evidence of his being wounded in action or of his medical evacuation because of injuries received in combat.  A Report of Medical History  in the record contains no entry showing that he was wounded during his Vietnam Service.

Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, 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 by a medical officer, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  The applicant has provided no evidence and his record contains no evidence to show that he was wounded in action in Vietnam and is entitled to the Purple Heart.

2.  In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy this requirement.

3.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

_lls _____  _le _____  _alr_____  DENY APPLICATION

						Loren G. Harrell
						Director

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999019460	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990825	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR .  .  .  .  .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  107.00		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.