PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           19 September 2000  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000043257

	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. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Hubert O. Fry, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. John P. Infante		Member	
	Ms. Regan K. Smith		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 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Purple Heart.

3.  The applicant states that he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 29 September 1968 and it is not shown on his discharge document.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his DD Form 214 and an award certificate for the Purple Heart. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted on 21 July 1966 for a period of 3 years.  He served as a light weapons infantryman in Vietnam from 
23 June 1968 through 12 October 1968 and was honorably released on 7 March 1969.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award.

6.  The applicant provided an award certificate, dated 30 September 1968, which shows he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on
29 September 1968 in Vietnam.

7.  The applicant’s records show that he was assigned to C Troop and D Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in military occupational specialty (MOS) 11B (infantry) during his assignment in Vietnam.

8.  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.

9.  U.S Army Vietnam (USARV) Regulation 672-1 (Decorations and Awards) provided, in pertinent part, for award of the Purple Heart.  The regulation stated that authority to award the Purple Heart was delegated to hospital commanders.  Further, it directed that all personnel treated and released within 24 hours will be awarded the Purple Heart by the organization to which the individual is assigned. Personnel requiring hospitalization in excess of 24 hours or evacuation from Vietnam will be awarded the Purple Heart directly by the hospital commander rendering treatment.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Infantryman Badge is awarded to infantry officers and to enlisted and warrant officer persons who have an infantry MOS.  They must have served in active ground combat while assigned or attached to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental or smaller size.  The Awards Branch of the Total Army Personnel Command has advised, in similar cases, that during the Vietnam era the Combat Infantryman Badge was awarded only to enlisted individuals who held and served in MOS 11B, 11C, 11F, 11G, or 11H.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There are no orders available to the Board which authorize award of the Purple Heart to the applicant.  However, the applicant has provided an award certificate which is authenticated by a hospital commander and shows the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart on 30 September 1968 for wounds sustained in Vietnam on 29 September 1968.  Upon review, the Board has determined that this evidence is sufficient as a basis for award of the Purple Heart.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his records to show award of the Purple Heart.

2.  Evidence of record shows the applicant served in an infantry MOS in an infantry platoon in a cavalry squadron in combat in Vietnam.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

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 was awarded the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

BOARD VOTE:  

HOF____  JPI_____  RKS_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Hubert O. Fry, Jr.___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000043257	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000919	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19690307	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200 Chapter 5	
DISCHARGE REASON	Member of medical hold detachment, does not intend to reenlist	
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT PLUS)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.	107.0111	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.