PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            31 March 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999021771

	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. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Curtis W. Barbee		Chairperson	
	Mr. John H. Kern		Member	
	Mr. Walter T. Morrison		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 that the Parachutist Badge and the Purple Heart be added to his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge).

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his DD Form 214 does not show his award of the Parachutist Badge and Purple Heart. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show he was inducted on 20 September 1967 as a light weapons infantryman.  He served in Vietnam from 20 April 1968 to 8 January 1969 and was discharged under honorable conditions on 11 April 1969.  In support of his application he submits a certificate showing completion of the Airborne Course and a Chronological Record of Medical Care (Standard Form 600).

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows the applicant was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, one Overseas Service Bar,
and the Expert Qualification Badge (M14) with Rifle Bar.  His discharge document does not show the Parachute Badge and Purple Heart as an authorized award.  The Board notes the applicant was awarded the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation by Department of the Army General Order Number 51, dated 1971 which is not shown on his DD Form 214.

6.  The applicant’s records contain a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214 dated 22 September 1969, and 16 February 1969) which amended his DD Form 214 to show his separation date as 11 March 1969 and to show award of the 
Parachutist Badge.  Therefore, award of the Parachutist Badge is not discussed any further in this proceeding.

7.  The applicant provided a copy of his Standard Form 600 which shows that he received a fragmentation wound to his right arm on 18 December 1968. 

8.  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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant is entitled to the awarded of the Purple Heart for a fragmentation wound he received to his right arm on 18 December 1968.  Therefore, he is entitled to the correction of his military records to show this award.

2.  The applicant was awarded the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

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 showing in item 24 of his DD Form 214 that he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.

BOARD VOTE:  

CWB____  JHK____  WTM____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Curtis W. Barbee______
		      CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999021771	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990331	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	GD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19690311	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.