PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            29 June 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000038415

	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. Jessie B. Strickland		Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. JoAnn H. Langston		Chairperson	
	Mr. John N. Slone		Member	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		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 report of separation (DD Form 214) be corrected to show that the seventh digit of his correct Social Security Account Number (SSAN) is a “4” instead of a “5” and that he was awarded the Purple Heart (PH).

3.  The applicant states that his DD Form 214 incorrectly reflects that the seventh digit of his SSAN is a “5” instead of a “4” and does not reflect the award of the PH that he received for wounds received in action in Vietnam on 11 September 1968.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted on 11 April 1966 for a period of 3 years and was assigned a serial number commensurate with his Regular Army status.  He successfully completed his training and was transferred to Germany on 20 August 1966 as an indirect fire crewman.  He remained in Germany until 24 May 1968 when he was transferred to Vietnam.

5.  On 11 September 1968, while serving in the rank of Private First Class with Company A, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, the applicant was wounded in action against the enemy and was hospitalized in Vietnam.

6.  On 28 May 1970 he was honorably released from active duty and was transferred to the USAR Control Group (Reinforcement).  At the time of his separation his DD Form 214 contained no entries regarding an award of the PH and it indicated that the seventh digit of his SSAN was “5”.

7.  A review of his records shows a SSAN entered throughout his records with a seventh digit of “4” on some documents and “5” on others.  However, there are sufficient documents, to include a special court-martial order showing that the seventh digit is “4”.  Accordingly, on 15 June 1972, The Adjutant General issued a DD Form 215 which corrected his SSAN.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Although the applicant has not provided a copy of his SSAN card, the Board is satisfied that an administrative error resulted in the seventh digit of his SSAN being improperly entered as a “5” instead of as a “4”.  However, the error was corrected on 15 June 1972 when a DD Form 215 was issued.  Accordingly, there is no basis to make any further corrections to his SSAN. 

2.  Likewise, the Board is convinced that the applicant was awarded the PH as he claims because there is irrefutable evidence contained in his records to show that he was in fact wounded in combat.  Therefore, it would also be in the interest of justice to correct his records to show his award of the PH. 

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 showing that the individual concerned was awarded the PH.

BOARD VOTE:  

___mm__  __js_____  __jhl____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___JoAnn H. Langston____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000038415	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	2000/06/29	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  189	110.0000/CORR 214	
2.  10	100.0900/SSAN	
3.  61	107.0015/PH	
4.		
5.		
6.