PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:            3 May 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000034967

	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. W. E. Schnupp		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. John H. Kern		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 that Purple Hearts be added to his DD Form 214, Report of Separation.

3.  The applicant states that Purple Hearts are not reflected on his DD Form 214, which shows that he suffered a combat related injury.

4.  In support of his request, he has provided a copy of his DD Form 214 showing that he was wounded in combat on 10 February 1953, and a copy of General Order (GO) Number 3, Headquarters 46th Surgical Hospital, dated 10 February 1953 awarding him the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster for wounds received in action on 10 February 1953.

5.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center.  Information herein was derived from documents provided by the applicant.

6.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows in block 29 (wounds received as a result of action with enemy forces) that he suffered gun shot wounds to the left upper arm and chest in Korea on 10 February 1953.  GO Number 3, provided by the applicant, confirms the fact that he was wounded in action on 10 February 1953 but indicates that he was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence provided by the applicant clearly establishes that he was wounded in action in Korea on 10 February 1953.  However, in the absence of other evidence showing that he had previously been awarded the Purple Heart, it appears that GO Number 3 is in error insofar as the award of the oak leaf cluster to the Purple Heart is concerned.

2.  From the evidence available it appears that the applicant is entitled only to the first award of the Purple Heart.

3.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by:

a.  showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart (first award) for wounds received in action in Korea on 10 February 1953; and

b.  issuing a correction to his DD Form 214 reflecting the aforementioned award.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__rvo ___  ___jhk___  ___ewl__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_________Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000034967	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000503	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.   107.00		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.