PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            6 February 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000047602

	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. Jessie B. Strickland		Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Walter T. Morrison		Member	
	Mr. Thomas Lanyi		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 he be awarded the Purple Heart.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he was wounded in Vietnam on 8 February 1968 and was never awarded the Purple Heart.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted on 21 September 1961 and remained on active duty through a series of continuous reenlistments.

5.  A review of his Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) shows that he served his first tour in Vietnam as an infantryman from 10 August 1967 until he was wounded (multiple fragment wounds to back and left buttocks) on 8 February 1968 and was subsequently medically evacuated to Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas on 3 March 1968.  At the time the applicant was wounded he was serving in the pay grade of E-6.

6.  The applicant remained on active duty until 31 May 1984 when he was released from active duty and was transferred to the Retired List in the pay grade of E-8.

7.  His OMPF shows no evidence to suggest that he was ever awarded the Purple Heart for his wounds.  However, his records do contain an Official Statement of Awards issued by the Adjutant General of the Army on 11 August 1986 indicating that the applicant is entitled to award of the Purple Heart.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound/injury sustained as a result of hostile action.  Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify that the wound/injury was a result of hostile action, that the wound/injury must have required treatment by a medical officer, and that the medical treatment was made a matter of official record.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  While it is apparent that the applicant was authorized the award of the Purple Heart based on the wounds he received in combat in Vietnam on 8 February 1968, there is no evidence in the available records to show that it was officially awarded to him or entered into his records.  Accordingly, it would be in the interest of justice to correct this administrative oversight at this time.

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 by awarding the individual concerned the Purple Heart for wounds received in action against the enemy in Vietnam on 8 February 1968, while serving in the pay grade of E-6.

BOARD VOTE:  

__tl_____  __rvo ___  __wtm __  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000047602	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	2001/02/06	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  61	107.0015/PH	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.