PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:            8 December 1999                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999021606

	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	
	Mr. W. E. Schnupp		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. James P. Huber		Member	
	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		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 award of the Purple Heart.

3.  The applicant states that his medical records show that he received a wound to his upper left arm in Vietnam that is worthy of a Purple Heart.  In support of his request, he has provided a copy of his DD Form 214, Report of Transfer or Discharge, several pages extracted from his medical records and a copy of a DVA Rating Decision.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted on 13 January 1967 and served 1-year in Vietnam from June 1967 to June 1968 as a light weapons infantryman and supply specialist in the 4th Infantry Division.  He was honorably discharged on 19 December 1968 in pay grade E-5.  His awards include the National Defense Service Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Sharpshooter Badge with rifle bar and 2 Overseas Bars.

5.  The applicant’s medical records note that on 26 June 1967 he was treated for an M-79 fragmentation wound to the upper left arm.  The wound was debrided and closed.  The fragment apparently could not be removed but he was seen daily and was noted to be doing well with no signs of infection.

6.  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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows that the applicant suffered a fragmentation wound to the upper left arm during his tour in Vietnam.

2.  While the exact circumstances of the wound cannot be determined from the medical treatment records, it is assumed that it was the result of hostile action considering that he was serving as a light weapons infantryman with an infantry unit (4th Infantry Division) at the time.

3.  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:

a.  showing that the individual concerned was wounded as a result of enemy action in Vietnam on 26 June 1967 and was awarded the Purple Heart; and 

	b.  correcting his DD Form 214 to show the award of the Purple Heart and issuing him the medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

_rvo_____  _jph____  _aao____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr._____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999021606	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19991208	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  107.00		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.