PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           24 August 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000041737

	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	
	Mrs. Nancy Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. George D. Paxson		Chairperson	
	Mr. Curtis L. Greenway		Member	
	Mr. Allen L. Raub		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 item 33 of his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, WD AGO Form 53-55, be corrected to show he was awarded the Purple Heart.  He states that he was wounded in action.  He has been unable to obtain a Purple Heart because of it not being reflected on his WD AGO Form   53-55.

3.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire in 1973.  The information contained herein was obtained from his WD AGO Form 53-55.

4.  The applicant enlisted and entered active duty on 16 May 1940.  His branch of service was field artillery.  His WD AGO Form 53-55, item 34 shows that he was wounded in action on 6 February 1945 in Germany.  He was separated on        30 June 1945.  His WD AGO FORM 53-55 does not list the Purple Heart.

5.  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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows the applicant was wounded in action and so met the criteria for award of the Purple Heart.

2.  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 to show the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart and that he be issued the Purple Heart. 

BOARD VOTE:  

__gdp___  __clg___  __alr___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			George D. Paxson
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000041737	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000824	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.