PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:                10 August 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AR2000040681

	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. Mark D. Manning		Chairperson	
	Mr. John Saputo		Member	
	Mr. Karen A. Heinz		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 award of the Purple Heart for wounds received in Vietnam. 

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) with a separation date of 4 April 1967 does not show the Purple Heart.  In support of his application he submits
a copy of a Clinical Record Cover Sheet and a copies of his DD Forms 214.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered active duty on 25 August 1965 and continued to serve until he was honorably discharged 
on 4 April 1967 in order to reenlist.  He reenlisted on 5 April 1967 and was honorably discharged on 23 May 1969.  He served in Vietnam from
3 December 1966 to 13 September 1967.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 with a separation date of 4 April 1967 shows
he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.  His DD Form 214 with a separation date of 4 April 1967 does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award.

6.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 with a separation date of 23 May 1969 shows he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze service star.

7.  The applicant provided a copy of a Clinical Recover Covert Sheet, dated 6 February 1967, which shows that the applicant received fragment wounds 
to his left hand and neck from an enemy land mine on 6 February 1967 while serving in Vietnam.  There is no record that the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart.

8.  The Board notes that the applicant is eligible for award of the Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 device which is not shown on his discharge document 

9.  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. 

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the Vietnam Campaign Medal.  This medal was awarded by the Government of Vietnam to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States for qualifying service in Vietnam during the period 1 March 1961 through 28 March 1973.  Qualifying service included assignment in Vietnam for 6 months or more and contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam and Armed Forces. 

Individuals who had qualified for award of the Vietnam Service Medal or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and were evacuated prior to completing six months of service due wounds resulting from hostile action were entitled to award of the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

CONCLUSIONS:.  

1.  Evidence of record shows the applicant received a fragment wound to his left hand and neck on 6 February 1967 while serving in Vietnam.  Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Purple Heart and correction of his records to show this award.

2.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant is entitled to the Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 device; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

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 DD Form 214 with a separation date of 4 April 1967 was awarded the Purple Heart and the Vietnam Campaign Medal with w/60 device.

BOARD VOTE:  

MDM____  JS______  KAH____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_MARK D MANNING______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000040681	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000810	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19690523	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  61		
2.  46		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.