PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:

	BOARD DATE:            7 November 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR200045319

	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. Deborah L. Brantley		Senior Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. George D. Paxson		Chairperson	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Member	
	Ms. Paula Mokulis		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 his records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart and that item 23a (specialty number & title) on his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected to reflect specialty 11B (light weapons infantryman).  He states he received the Purple Heart for wounds sustained to his legs when he was thrown from a vehicle which ran over some enemy mines.  He also states that he does not know why his separation document reflects specialty 76Y (Armorer Unit Supply) but speculates that was the only way his commander could get him promoted prior to leaving Vietnam.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty on 
6 June 1967 and successfully completed training as an infantryman (specialty 11B) at Fort Polk, Louisiana prior to being assigned to Vietnam in November 1967.  While in Vietnam he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.

4.  On 1 June 1968, while assigned to the 5th Infantry Regiment of the 25th Infantry Division, the applicant sustained lacerations to his legs when the vehicle he was riding in hit two mines.  His wounds are confirmed in item 40 (wounds) on his DA Form 20 (enlisted qualification record).  There is however, no evidence the applicant was ever awarded the Purple Heart.

5.  On 2 November 1968, just prior to departing Vietnam, the applicant was promoted to pay grade E-5 and awarded specialty 76Y.  He served in that specialty until his separation from active duty on 5 June 1969.

6.  At the time of the applicant’s separation from active duty, Army Regulation 635-5, which established the policies and procedures for the recording of only one military specialty.  The entry was intended to record the primary military specialty.  It was not until 1979 when the DD Form 214 underwent a revision that additional specialties were included on the separation document.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms that the applicant was wounded on 1 June 1968 as result of hostile action while in Vietnam and as such is entitled to an award of the Purple Heart.

2.  Although the evidence clearly indicates that the applicant did hold an 11B primary specialty for the majority of his military service, his primary specialty at the time of his separation from active duty was 76Y, the specialty which was awarded to him as a result of his promotion to pay grade E-5.  As such there is no evidence of error or injustice in the recording of his primary military specialty on his separation report.

3.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the individual concerned the Purple Heart for wounds sustained on 1 June 1968 while in Vietnam.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

__gdp__  ____mhm_  ___pm___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000045319	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20001107	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	Grant	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.	110.00	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.