PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:           

	BOARD DATE:                18 July 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR2000040044

	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	
	Ms. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. George D. Paxson		Chairperson	
	Ms. Elizabeth Buchanon		Member	
	Ms. Margaret V. Thompson		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 correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show that he was awarded the 
Purple Heart.  

3.  The applicant states that the Purple Heart is not shown on his DD Form 214.  He submitted a copy of his DD Form 214 and a copy of a DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 11 May 1977.

4.  The applicant’s military records show he enlisted on 10 July 1967 and was honorably discharged on 13 June 1968 in order to reenlist.  He reenlisted on 14 June 1968.  He served in Vietnam from 11 January 1968 to 28 August 1969 and from 29 May 1970 to 25 April 1971 and was honorably discharged on 26 April 1971.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Parachutist Badge, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge), Aircraft Crew Member Badge, the Air Medal with “V” Device, three Overseas Service Bars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, the Good Conduct Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.  His discharge document does not show the Purple Heart.

6.  Item 40 (Wounds) of his DA Form 20 (Personnel Qualification Record) shows the entry “frag wnd left leg, back, right arm 29Apr68” [fragment wound left leg, back, right arm 29 April 1968].

7.  A DA Form 1577, dated 11 May 1977, shows the Army Personnel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, determined the applicant was entitled to the Purple Heart.

8.  1st Aviation Brigade General Orders Number 2627, dated 29 March 1971, show the applicant received the Army Commendation Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) for meritorious service.  This award is not shown on his DD Form 214.

9.  Americal Division General Orders Number 9102, dated 5 September 1969, awarded the applicant the Air Medal (Second through Twelfth Oak Leaf Clusters) for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving in Vietnam from 19 March 1969 to 1 August 1969.

10.  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.

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Air Medal is awarded in time of war for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service while participating in aerial flight.  This award is primarily intended for personnel on flying status, but may also be awarded to those personnel whose combat duties require them to fly, for example personnel in the attack elements of units involved in air-land assaults against an armed enemy.  Arabic numerals are now used instead of oak leaf clusters for the second and succeeding awards of the Air Medal.  The numeral 2 denotes the second award.  The bronze “V” device indicates acts of heroism involving conflict with an armed enemy.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was awarded the Purple Heart; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

2.  The applicant was awarded the Army Commendation Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster); therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

3.  Orders show the applicant received 13 awards of the Air Medal and one of the awards was with the “V” Device.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to the Air Medal with “V” Device and with Numeral “13” and correction of his records to show this award.

4.  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 Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) and the Air Medal with “V” Device and with Numeral “13”.

BOARD VOTE:  

GDP____  EB______  MVT____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___GEORGE D. PAXSON________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000040044	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000718	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19710426	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  61		
2.  		
3.  		
4.  		
5.		
6.