PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           11 January 2001                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000048192

	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	
	Mrs. Nancy Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Ernest M. Willcher		Chairperson	
	Ms. Ann M. Campbell		Member	
	Mr. Donald P. Hupman, Jr.		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 1st oak leaf cluster.

3.  The applicant states that he was wounded in July 1951 in the back and in October 1951 when he lost one finger on his left hand.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 13 June 1950.

5.  On 7 October 1952, a physical evaluation board (PEB) convened to determine the applicant’s fitness for duty relating to the amputation of the middle finger of his left hand incurred when he was wounded in action on 11 October 1951 when he stepped on a landmine.  The PEB paperwork also noted that the applicant had been wounded in action on 21 July 1951 by hand grenade fragments penetrating the right lumbo-dorsal area.  He had been treated within the division and returned to duty.  

6.  The applicant was found fit for duty and he was released from active duty upon the expiration of his term of service on 17 November 1952, after completing 2 years, 5 months and 5 days of creditable active service with no lost time.  His Service Record, WD AGO Form 24A, section 9 shows that he was favorably considered for the Army Good Conduct Medal.  The Army Good Conduct Medal is not listed on his DD Form 214.  

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides policy and criteria concerning individual military decorations.  In pertinent part, it states that the Purple Heart is awarded to any member of an Armed Force who has been wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States.  The wound must have required treatment by a medical officer and records of medical treatment for wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record.  It also states that the Army Good Conduct Medal is awarded for each 3 years of continuous enlisted active Federal military service completed on or after            27 August 1940 and, for the first award only, upon termination of service on or after 27 June 1950 of less than 3 years but more than 1 year.  At the time, a soldier’s conduct and efficiency ratings must have been rated as “excellent” for the entire period of qualifying service.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows that the applicant was wounded in action on  21 July 1951 in addition to his being wounded in action on 11 October 1951, for which wound he was awarded the Purple Heart.

2.  The evidence of record also shows that the applicant had been favorably considered for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal.
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 showing that the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart for his initial wounds received on 21 July 1951 and subsequently awarded the Purple Heart 1st oak leaf cluster for wounds received on 11 October 1951.

2.  That the applicant be awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 13 June 1950 – 17 November 1952.

3.  That the applicant’s DD Form 214, item 27 be amended to add the Purple Heart 1st oak leaf cluster and the Army Good Conduct Medal and item 29 be amended to add his wounds received in Korea on 21 July 1951.

BOARD VOTE:  

__emw___  __amc___  __dph__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			Ernest M. Willcher
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000048192	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20010111	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.	107.0056	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.