PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           8 March 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999028669

	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.  

	Mrs. Joyce A. Hughes .		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Elzey J. Arledge, Jr.		Member	
	Mr. Ernest W. Lutz, Jr.		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 in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to show award of the Purple Heart.

3.  The applicant states in effect, that he was wounded in Vietnam and was hospitalized and discharged before the award was issued.

4.  The applicant’s military records show he was born on 1 May 1947.  He was inducted into the Army on 2 November 1966.  He completed basic combat training and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupational specialty 11B10 (Light Weapons Infantryman).  He served in Vietnam from 
24 April 1967 to 2 December 1967.

5. On 7 November 1967, in the Republic of Vietnam the applicant was wounded in connection with military operations against a hostile force.  He received shrapnel wounds in the left pelvis, left leg, stomach and back.  He departed Vietnam on 2 December 1967.

6.  On 1 November 1968, the applicant was honorably discharged.  He completed 2 years of creditable active service.  He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, Overseas Service Bar, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Marksman Badge (M-16 Rifle), the Second Class Gunner Badge (M-60 Machine Gun) and  the Marksman Badge (M-14 Rifle).

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 would 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 clearly shows that the applicant was entitled to the Purple Heart.  General Orders #4377 of 9 November 1967, filed in his military record awards the applicant the Purple Heart for wounds received under hostile fire.  The DD Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) also substantiates his entitlement.

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 the applicant is entitled to award of the Purple Heart.

BOARD VOTE:  

__rvo___  __eja___  __ewl___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999028669	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000308	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19681101	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.