PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                5 August 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AR1999020503

	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	
	M. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Mark D. Manning		Chairperson	
	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		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, in effect, that his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected to show that he was awarded the Purple Heart.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he was wounded in Vietnam on or about 16 June 1969 and was treated at the 577th Engineer Battalion Aid Station and was returned to duty.  He also states that he was presented the Purple Heart at Fort Carson, Colorado on or about February 1970.  In support of his application he submits a copy of his DD Form 214, copy of DA Form 2658 (Health Record-Abstract of Service), copy of Standard Form 600 (Chronological Record of Medical Care), copy of Headquarters, Department of the Army, Adjutant General Personnel Center Award Letter, dated 27 May 1970 (Presentation of Award Purple Heart) and a copy letter of a from the Veterans Service Officer, dated 31 August 1998.

4.  The applicant’s military records show he enlisted on 28 February 1968 as a truck driver.  He served in Vietnam from 25 July 1968 to 19 July 1969 and from 26 August 1970 to 20 February 1971 and was honorably discharged on 
21 February 1971.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.  His discharge document does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award. 

6.  The applicant provides a copy of his Standard Form 600, which shows he received a superficial wound to his left wrist to due to a mortar attack while serving in Vietnam.

7.  A memorandum signed by the AG of the US Army Personnel Services
Support Center, Fort Benjamin Harrison, subject; Presentation of Award - Purple, dated 27 May 1970, indicates that the applicant was assigned to Company B, 5th Supply and Transportation Battalion and was presented with the Purple Heart, by General Order Number 47, dated 15 July 1969.

8.  The Board notes that the applicant is entitled to the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period
28 February 1968 to 21 February 1971, which are not shown on his discharge document.

9.  The applicant was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation by Department of the Army General Orders 53, dated 1970.

10. There is no indication in the applicant’s personnel records that show he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal.  There also is no evidence that the applicant was disqualified by his unit commander for award of the Good Conduct Medal.
However, his records show that he received excellent conduct and efficiency rating during his entire period of service.  There is no evidence of derogatory information contained in the available records.

11.   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.

12.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  This period is 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Although there is no automatic entitlement to the Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant is entitled to the award of the Purple Heart for a superficial wound he received to his left wrist on 16 June 1969 while serving in Vietnam.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his military record to show that he was awarded the Purple Heart.

2.  The applicant was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

3.  The applicant is entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 28 February 1968 to 21 February 1971 based on completion of a period of qualifying service ending with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

4.  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 in 24 (Decorations and Awards) of his DD Form 214 that he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 28 February 1968 to 
21 February 1971.
BOARD VOTE:  

MDM____  AAO____  EWL____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Mark D. Manning_______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999020503	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990805	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19710221	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  61		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.