MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           29 September 1999                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999021001

	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	
	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 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:  That he be awarded the Purple Heart.

APPLICANT STATES:  That he was wounded in combat at Middleburg Island in New Guinea in 1944.  He was hospitalized for over 6 months.  He is still disabled due to his war injury.  He provides a copy of his Report of Separation as supporting evidence.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records were burned in the National Personnel Records Center fire in 1973 but are largely still legible.

He was inducted into the Army on 30 July 1942.  He arrived at Milne Bay, New Guinea on1 September 1943.  He had served on five islands in the New Guinea group/area for periods of lengths varying from 1 ½ to 3 months.  He arrived on Middleburg Island on 1 August 1944 and departed on 5 August 1944.  Morning Report Locator Cards show he was assigned to the 37th Field Hospital Patient Detachment on 15 August 1944 and to the 13th General Hospital Patient Detachment on 25 August 1944.  His next assignment is shown as Oro Bay, New Guinea, arrival date 10 December 1944.

The applicant’s service records do not indicate the type of injury that caused him to be hospitalized and his medical records are not available.

The applicant returned stateside on 20 November 1945 and was separated on  26 November 1945.

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. 

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.  While the evidence of record shows the applicant was hospitalized, there is no evidence to show why he was hospitalized.  The applicant has provided no evidence to show how he was wounded and has provided no details as to how his injury occurred.  (The burden and costs for researching and assembling documentation to support an application for a specific claim rests with the requester.)

2.  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

__fne___  __tap___  ___mw___  DENY APPLICATION

						Loren G. Harrell
						Director

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999021001	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	19990929	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.