PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           12 December 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000045700

	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:

	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Ms. Lana E. McGlynn		Member	
	Mr. Harry B. Oberg		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 the Purple Heart be listed on his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge).

3.  The applicant states that he was treated for a gunshot wound in Vietnam and received additional medical treatment in Japan and Walter Reed Army Hospital.  In support of his application he submits a copy of his DD Form 214 dated 
1 March 1968.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army on 27 October 1965.  He was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 11B (Light Weapons Infantryman).  His awards include the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, and the National Defense Service Medal.  He was honorably released from active duty on 
1 March 1968 in the pay grade of E-2. 

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

6.  Item 40 (Wounds) of the applicant’s DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) reflect he received a gunshot wound to his left thumb.  Also, a medical addendum attached to the applicant’s separation physical indicates he sustained a gunshot wound to his left thumb on 29 April 1967 and received medical treatment in Vietnam, Japan and Walter Reed Army Hospital. 

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 DA Form 20 and medical records both show that applicant received a gunshot wound to his left thumb as a result of action with enemy forces.  Accordingly, he meets 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 that that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart.

BOARD VOTE:  

__FNE__  __LEM__ __HBO___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		     __Fred N. Eichorn___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000045700	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20001212	
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.