MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           12 September 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000040655

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Calvin M. Fowler 		Chairperson	
	Mr. Fred Eichorn		Member	
	Ms. Carol Jo Suiter 		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  Award of the Purple Heart.

APPLICANT STATES:  In effect, that he sustained a shrapnel wound to his chest on 4 April 1969 in Vietnam when a grenade exploded by his bunker during a firefight.  He contends that his original records were lost and his injury was documented in his temporary records.  However, when his original records were found, the documentation of his injury was not incorporated with his original records.  In support of his application he submits a letter of explanation dated 
13 February 1995; a copy of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge); a letter from the applicant, dated 16 November 1999, to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records; and a letter from the Review Board Agency Support Division in St. Louis, Missouri, dated 7 December 1999.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

The applicant was inducted on 17 April 1968.  He served as a cannoneer in Vietnam from 12 March 1969 through 11 March 1970 and was honorably released on 11 March 1970.

The applicant’s DD Form 214, which was authenticated in his own hand, does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award.

There is no evidence in the applicant’s service personnel records that he was awarded the Purple Heart or was wounded as a result of hostile action.

Evidence of record shows that on 11 March 1970 the applicant underwent a separation physical examination which makes no mention of any wounds sustained as a result of hostile action.  His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) does not reflect entitlement to the Purple Heart and item 40 (Wounds) on his DA Form 20 is blank.     
 
Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) 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.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  The Board noted the applicant’s contention that he was wounded on 4 April 1969 in Vietnam.  However, there is no evidence of record available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows that he was injured or treated for wounds as a result of hostile action in Vietnam.  

2.   Evidence of record shows the applicant signed his DD Form 214 attesting to the fact he was not entitled to the Purple Heart.

3.  The preponderance of evidence in this case shows he was not wounded or otherwise entitled to the Purple Heart.  Therefore, the applicant is not entitled to correction of his military records to show this award.

4.  In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy the aforementioned requirement.

5.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

CMF____  FE_____  CJS_____  DENY APPLICATION

		    Carl W. S. Chun
		    Director, Army Board for Correction
    of Military Records

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000040655	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000912	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19700311	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200 Chapter 5	
DISCHARGE REASON	Overseas returnee	
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.