MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

IN THE CASE OF:  

BOARD DATE:           12 April 2000                  
DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999023880

	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. Gerald E. Vandenberg		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Robert G. Hinkle		Chairperson	
	Ms. Barbara J. Ellis		Member	
	Mr. James P. Steuve		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: Reconsideration of his application to correct his records by showing he had an in-service training through of the Army Special Training Program (ASTP), and that he is entitled to the Purple Heart.

APPLICANT STATES:  In effect, that the statements from fellow service members show that he was wounded and sent to a field hospital for care.  He also contends that he attended a precommissioning course at a college in New York that should be reflected on his discharge document.

NEW EVIDENCE OR INFORMATION:  Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in a memorandum prepared to reflect the Board's original consideration of his case on 14 January 1999 (COPY ATTACHED).

The applicant submits a statement from a fellow soldier who states that he was a witness to the applicant being “blown up” by a German shell, that the applicant was knocked unconscious, sustained an open wound on his hand and that the applicant was taken to a field hospital for about 10 days before returning to the unit.

This document was not available to the Board previously and constitutes new evidence that requires Board review.

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.  The applicant has submitted no evidence he attended and successfully completed any portion of the ASTP training.  By his own account the applicant did not complete the course.  Normally incomplete courses are not recorded on separation documents. 

2.  The statements of individuals are inadequate as the sole basis for an award of the Purple Heart because they do not fulfill the regulatory requirement that there is a record of medical treatment.  However, they are normally accepted as a substantiation of the combat or the enemy origin of a wound for which there is a record of treatment.  The applicant’s record does not reflect hospitalization in November of 1944, the period during which he contends that he was treated for the concussion.  The records so show an April 1945 hospitalization for infectious hepatitis.  During this hospitalization he was referred for evaluation and treatment for neuropsychiatric condition diagnosed as a chronic moderate anxiety state. 

3.  The overall merits of the case, including the latest submissions and arguments are insufficient as a basis for the Board to reverse its previous decision.

4.  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

___rgh__  ___bje___  ___jps___  DENY APPLICATION

	Karl F. Schneider
	Director, Army Review Boards Agency

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999023880	
SUFFIX		
RECON	 	
DATE BOARDED	20000412	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	100	
2.	107.0015	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.