PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                9 February 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999027740

	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. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Ms. Deborah S. Jacobs		Member	
	Ms. Carol Jo Suiter		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 for his action in Cambodia on or about 4 July 1969 to 17 July 1969.

3.  The applicant states that he received head wounds during action with 
B Battery, 1st Battalion, 21st Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division while in Cambodia and adjacent to the Brigade out of L4 Quam Loi, Republic of Vietnam. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted on 8 February 
1968.  He served in Vietnam from 30 December 1968 to 24 December 1969 and was honorably discharged on 29 December 1969.

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

6.  There is no record that the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart.  There also is no indication in the applicant’s service personnel records that show he was wounded as a result of hostile action.  His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) does not show an entry in item 40 (Wounds) and does not show the Purple Heart as an entry in item 41 (Awards and Decorations).

7.  Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division (AIRMOBILE) General Orders Number 12472, dated 13 October 1969, shows the applicant was awarded the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 8 February 1968 to 6 December 1969.

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.  There is no evidence of record available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows he was injured or wounded due to hostile action while serving in Vietnam.  Therefore, he not is entitled to award of the Purple Heart.

2.  The applicant was awarded the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 8 February 1968 to 6 December 1969.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

3.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  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 the individual concerned was awarded the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 8 February 1968 to 6 December 1969.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

RVO____  DSJ_____  CJS____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999027740	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000209	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19691229	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1. 61		
2.  102		
3.  		
4.		
5.		
6.