PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:           27 May 1999        
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999019581

	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. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Edward Williamson		Chairperson	
	Ms. Meta Waller		Member	
	Mr. Kenneth L. Wright		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, in effect, award of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal. 

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that apparently there were no written records made or they were lost or misplaced before they got to his 201 file.  He contends that he does not have any evidence to support his request, only his word.  In support of his application, he submits a 24 November 1997 letter from a New York Congressman, a 30 May 1998 letter the applicant wrote to the Special Actions Division at St. Louis, Missouri, and a 10 November 1997 letter from the Special Inquiries Branch at St. Louis, Missouri.   

4.  The applicant’s military records were destroyed or lost during the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show that the applicant was inducted 
19 April 1951.  He served in Korea for 11 months and was separated with an honorable discharge on 19 January 1953.  

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 (Report of Separation From the Armed Forces of the United States), which was authenticated in his own hand, does not show the Purple Heart of the Bronze Star Medal as authorized awards.    

6.  There is no evidence in the available records that shows the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart or was wounded as a result of hostile action.  Item 
29 (Wounds Received as a Result of Action with Enemy Forces) of the applicant’s DD Form 214 states “None”.

7.  There is no evidence in the available records that shows the applicant was recommended for or awarded the Bronze Star Medal.  

8.  DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 25 November 1991, shows the Army Reserve Personnel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, determined that the applicant was entitled to the Good Conduct Medal, the Presidential Unit Emblem, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. 

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

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Bronze Star Medal is awarded in time of war for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service.  As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.  Recommendations must be made within 2 years of the event or period of service and the award must be made within 3 years.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There is no evidence available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows he was wounded or treated for wounds due to hostile action in Korea.  Therefore, he is not entitled to award of the Purple Heart.  

2.  There is no evidence available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows he was recommended for or received the Bronze Star Medal.  Therefore, he is not entitled to award of this medal. 

3.  The applicant was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Presidential Unit Emblem, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his military records to show these awards.
 
4.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusion, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Presidential Unit Emblem, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied. 

BOARD VOTE:  

EW_____  MW_____  KLW____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Edward Williamson_____
		CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999019581	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	19990527	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19530119	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365   	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.