PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            22 February 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000048869

	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. Ted S. Kanamine		Member	
	Mr. Stanley Kelley		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 his report of separation (DD Form 214) shows that he was wounded in combat in Korea on 20 August 1952.  However, it does not reflect an award of the Purple Heart.  He also states that he would like his records to reflect the award of the Purple Heart and he would like the medal issued.

4.  The applicant’s military records were partially destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center which destroyed millions of service records.  However, the surviving records show that he was inducted in Honolulu, Hawaii on 1 November 1951 and was transferred to Korea on 8 April 1952.

5.  On 20 August 1952, while serving as a private first class (PFC) with Company B, 15th Infantry Regiment, the applicant was wounded on Hill 170 in North Korea. He sustained mortar and grenade fragment wounds to the left leg and was attached to a Swedish Red Cross Hospital for treatment from 22 August to 24 September 1952. 

6.  On 17 September 1952 the medical administration detachment issued General Orders number 118 issuing him the Purple Heart for his wounds.  The document memorializing the issuance of the Purple Heart order is contained in the available records.  However, there is no indication in his service record to show that the Purple Heart was ever actually given to the soldier or recorded into his service record.

7.  On 3 August 1953 he was honorably released from active duty in the rank of sergeant first class and was transferred to the United States Army Reserve (USAR).  His DD Form 214, issued at the time of separation, shows that he was wounded in the left leg in Korea on 20 August 1952 and that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the United Nations Service Medal and the Korea Service Medal with three bronze service stars.  There is no indication that the Purple Heart was ever recorded in his service records.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record clearly shows that orders were published awarding the applicant the Purple Heart.  However, there is no evidence to show that it was ever presented to the applicant or properly recorded in his service records.

2.  Therefore, the Board finds that it would be in the interest of justice to issue the applicant a Purple Heart citation and medal set at this time and to correct his records accordingly.

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 issuing the applicant a medal set and Purple Heart citation showing that he was wounded in combat against the enemy on 20 August 1952 while serving in the rank of PFC and by correcting his records accordingly.

BOARD VOTE:  

__sk____  ___tsk __  ___rvo __  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000048869	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	2001/02/22	
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.