PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                12 January 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999026278

	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.  

	Ms. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright		Member	
	Mr. Luther L. Santiful		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, in effect, that he was wounded in action while serving in Vietnam.  In support of his application he submits a copy of his Standard Form 
88 (Report of Medical Examination) and a copy of his Standard Form 89 (Report of Medical History).

4.  The applicant’s military records show he entered active duty on 11 September 1967 as a light weapons infantryman.  He served in Vietnam from 27 May 1968
to 27 May 1969 and was honorably discharged on 18 September 1970.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award.  

6.  The applicant provides a copy of his Standard Form 88 and Standard Form 89, which shows that he received a shrapnel wound to his right hip in April 1969 while serving in Vietnam.

7.   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.  Evidence of record shows the applicant received a shrapnel wound to his 
right hip in April 1969 while serving in Vietnam.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his military records to show that he was awarded the Purple Heart.

2.  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 (Decorations and Awards) of his DD Form 214 that he
was awarded the Purple Heart for a shrapnel wound to his right hip in April 1969 while serving in Vietnam.

BOARD VOTE:  

JNS_____  INW____  LLS_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		John N. Slone_________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999026278	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000112	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	1970-918	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1. 61		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.