PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:            24 October 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000045555

	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	
	Mr. William Blakely.		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Margaret K. Patterson		Chairperson	
	Mr. John T. Meixell		Member	
	Mr. Edwin S. Castle		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, in effect, that he be awarded the Purple Heart. 

3.  The applicant states that he was wounded in Korea, but did not receive the Purple Heart.  In support of his application the applicant’s daughter provides a letter that states her father was a combat engineer assigned to the 7th Regiment. She states he was wounded, treated in a Swedish hospital in Seoul, Korea, and was awarded the Purple Heart while recuperating in the hospital.  Also, the applicant submits his DD Form 214 (separation document) dated 19 November 1953.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that the applicant entered the Army on 20 February 1952.  He served overseas for 1 year, 1 month, and 9 days and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars, the United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.  Item 29 of his separation document shows he received a sustained flesh wound (SFW) to his left arm, buttocks, and right leg result of action with enemy forces. 

5.  He attained the rank of sergeant and was honorably released from active duty on 19 November 1953.

6.  The applicant’s DD Form 230 (Service Record) Section 8 (Wounds Received through Enemy Action) reflect the applicant received a SFW to his left arm, buttocks, and right leg as the result of action with enemy forces on 24 June 1953.

7.  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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s personnel records did not contain general orders announcing the award of the Purple Heart.

2.  The applicant’s separation document and service record both show that applicant received a SFW to his left arm, buttocks, and right leg as a result of action with enemy forces.  Accordingly, he meets the criteria for award of the Purple Heart.

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 wounded in action on 24 June 1953 in Korea and was awarded the Purple Heart. 

BOARD VOTE:  

__MKP__  __JTM___  __ESC__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		    Margaret K. Patterson
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000045555	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20001024	
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.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.