PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:           27 June 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000035401

	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. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mr. Robert J. McGowan		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Mark D. Manning		Chairperson	
	Mr. Walter T. Morrison		Member	
	Mr. Curtis L. Greenway		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 his DD Form 214, Report of Separation, be corrected to show that he was awarded the Purple Heart.

3.  The applicant states that Block 29 (Wounds Received as a Result of Action with Enemy) on his DD Form 214 shows that he received head wounds on 4 October 1951 in North Korea, but the Purple Heart is not listed among his awards in Block 27 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized).  In support, he provides a copy of his DD Form 214.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 10 January 1951 and served as an infantryman until he was honorably discharged on 9 October 1952.  He served 10 months and 28 days in Korea during the Korean War.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 indicates that he was wounded in North Korea on 4 October 1951 when he received head wounds.  It also indicates that he was awarded the Korean Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, the United Nations Service Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal (Japan), and two other awards that appear to be typographical errors.  Block 27 shows that he was awarded a “GIB” and a “PM.”  It is obvious from the record that these two awards should be a CIB (Combat Infantryman Badge) and a PH (Purple Heart).

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual military awards.  It states, in pertinent part, that there are basically three requirements for award of the CIB.  The soldier must have been an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, he must have been assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and he must have actively participated in such ground combat.  Specific requirements state, in effect, that an Army enlisted soldier must have had an infantry or special forces specialty and satisfactorily performed duty while assigned or attached as a member of an infantry, ranger or special forces unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size during any period such unit was engaged in active ground combat.  A recipient must have been personally present and under hostile fire while serving in an assigned infantry or special forces primary duty, in a unit actively engaged in ground combat with the enemy.

7.  The same regulation also provides that the PH 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.

8.  The regulation also provides that Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM) is authorized for a first award only, upon termination of service on or after 27 June 1950, of less than 3 years, but more than 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant served in Korea during the Korean War.  His DD Form 214 shows that he was wounded in action and entitled to the PH.  It also shows two typographical errors in the awards block—“GIB” and “PM.”  These should be CIB and PH.

2.  Additionally, the applicant is entitled to the AGCM for his honorable service from 10 January 1951 through 9 October 1952.

3.  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 issuing to the individual concerned a DD Form 215, Correction to DD Form 214, deleting the “GIB” and “PM” from Block 27, and adding the PH, CIB, and AGCM.

BOARD VOTE:  

__mdm__  __wtm___  __clg___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		    __Mark D. Manning__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000035401	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000627	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	DASA	
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.	107.0056	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.