MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:            31 August 2000    
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000041456

	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. Samuel A. Crumpler		Chairperson	
	Ms. Barbara J. Ellis		Member	
	Mr. Joe R. Schroeder		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:  Correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Purple Heart.  

APPLICANT STATES:  In effect, that he sustained a shrapnel wound on 9 April 1968 and was treated at the field hospital in Vietnam.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his discharge document.

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

The applicant was inducted on 2 October 1967.  He served as a light weapons infantryman in Vietnam from 26 March 1968 through 29 March 1969 and was honorably released on 1 October 1969.

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

There are no orders in the applicant’s service personnel records which show that he was awarded the Purple Heart.  There also is no evidence in his records that he was wounded or treated for wounds as a result of hostile action.  His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) does not show any entry in item 40 (Wounds) or list the Purple Heart in item 41 (Awards and Decorations).

The applicant stated in his separation physical examination, dated 28 July 1969, that he sustained a piece of shrapnel in his left shoulder on 19 April 1968 in Vietnam and that he was “hit” with shrapnel in his back on 4 October 1968 in Vietnam.  Item 39 (Physician’s Summary and Elaboration of all Pertinent Data) on the separation physical examination shows the entry “Frag [fragment] wounds L [left] shoulder & back”.  There is no evidence that these wounds were the result of hostile action in Vietnam. 

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.  Notwithstanding the applicant’s remarks and the physician’s summary contained in the applicant’s separation physical examination conducted on
28 July 1969, there is no evidence of record available to the Board which shows he was injured or treated for wounds sustained 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.  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 this requirement.

4.  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

SAC_____  BJE____  JRS_____  DENY APPLICATION

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

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000041456	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000831	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19691001	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200  	
DISCHARGE REASON	Expiration term of service	
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.