PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:  10 April 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2000049952

	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. Vic Whitney		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Sherri V. Ward		Chairperson	
	Mr. James E. Anderholm		Member	
	Mr. George Paxson		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.  He also states that his service number is incorrect on his award of the Bronze Star Medal.

3.  The applicant states that in December 1967 or January 1968 he was evacuated to a field hospital for wounds to his left hand and above the left eye.  He spent 3 to 4 days in the hospital and received stitches.  He provides no documentation in support of his request.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted and entered active duty on 28 January 1967.  He was trained as a combat engineer and assigned to Vietnam from 16 November 1967 through 15 November 1968.  Effective 28 April 1969 he was separated from active duty in the pay grade of E-5 and transferred to the USAR.  He had 1 year, 10 months, and 1 day creditable service.  His DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge), which he authenticated with his signature, does not show the Purple Heart or the Bronze Star Medal as authorized awards.

5.  The applicant’s DA Form 20 (Qualification Record) in block 40 (wounds) shows FW (fragmentation wound) face, left hand.  Block 41 (Awards) does not show an award of the Purple Heart.  There are no orders in the available records that award the applicant the Purple Heart or the Bronze Star Medal.

6.  The applicant’s report of medical history, which he completed on 4 February 1969, does not mention being wounded in Vietnam as a result of enemy action.  The only hospitalization reported by him was for a leg operation at the age of 13 years.  The doctor’s report of medical examination on 4 February 1969 notes a medical history of shrapnel wounds to the left hand, left ear lobe, and right eyebrow but provides no information on the origin of the wounds.  There are no casualty reports or medical treatment records in the available records.

7.  Information obtained from the Total Army Personnel Command shows that the applicant is listed as a non-serious but hospitalized battle casualty on 3 January 1968.

8.  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 by a medical officer, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Notwithstanding the absence of medical treatment records or award orders, it appears that the applicant is entitled to an award of the Purple Heart for wounds received in action against the enemy on 3 January 1968.
2.  There is no documentation in the available record, or provided by the applicant, that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, or that such award reflects an incorrect service number.

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 for the individual concerned be corrected by showing that he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action against the enemy on 3 January 1968.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

___sw__  __ja___  __gp___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Sherri V. Ward______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000049952	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20010410	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PARTIAL	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.