PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:     

	BOARD DATE:           1 August 2001                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000050513

	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. W. E. Schnupp		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. June Hajjar		Chairperson	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Member	
	Mr. Ernest W. Lutz		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 his DD Form 214, Report of Separation, be corrected to reflect all of his decorations and medals to include the Korean Service Medal (KSM) with 2 Bronze service stars, the United Nations Service Medal (UNSM), the National Defense Service Medal (NDSM), the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and the new Korean Medal (Korean War Service Medal).

3.  The applicant states that when he completed his service administrative personnel failed to reflect all of his decorations and medals on his DD Form 214. In support of his request, he submits two DD Forms 214 covering his two periods of active duty service.

4.  Counsel supports the contentions set forth by the applicant and requests that his DD Form 214 be amended to reflect the awards he requests.

5.  The applicant’s military records were partially damaged in the fire at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973.  Information herein has been extracted from the available discernable records and information provided by the applicant and from alternate sources.

6.  His DD Forms 214 show that he was inducted on 15 December 1950, served in Korea, was wounded in the right wrist in May 1951, and was honorably discharged and reassigned to the Unite States Army Reserve on 12 December 1952.  His military occupational specialty (MOS) at the time is not shown.  He reentered active duty on 19 November 1954 and was honorably discharged on 18 November 1955.

7.  His awards, as reflected on his Service Record (DA Form 230) and his DD Forms 214, include the KSM with 2 Bronze service stars, the NDSM, the Purple Heart and the UNSM.  A DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards) shows that all of the foregoing awards were issued to him on 16 May 1984.

8.  A Clinical Record Brief dated 30 May 1951 shows that the applicant was treated for a gunshot wound to the right wrist as a result of enemy action on 27 May 1951.  The record shows that at the time of his admission for treatment, he was assigned to Company B, 38th Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. 

9.  Information obtained from records at the National Archives shows that on 24 May 1951 the applicant, then a private with MOS, 4745 (rifleman), was assigned as a replacement to Company B, 38th Regiment, 2nd Division in Korea.  Three days later he was wounded in action and awarded the Purple Heart for that wound.

10.  The information from the National Archives was furnished to the applicant for comment on 9 July 2001.  He responded that he served, fought and was wounded as an infantryman in Korea but somehow the fact that he was entitled to the CIB was never indicated on his Discharge.  He believes that he is entitled to the CIB.

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides, in pertinent part, that to be eligible for the CIB, an individual must be an infantryman with an infantry MOS and must perform primary duty as an infantryman, as a member of an infantry unit of brigade or smaller size, during any period in which that unit was engaged in ground combat.  Battle participation credit alone is not sufficient.

12.  On 20 August 1999, the Department of Defense approved the acceptance and wear of the Korean War Service Medal to eligible US veterans of the Korean War, or their surviving next of kin.  The medal is provided at no cost to veterans.  The US Air Force has been designated the lead agency to receive and distribute the medals.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record supports the applicant’s request that he should have the Purple Heart and the UNSM reflected on his DD Form 214.  (The NDSM and the KSM with 2 Bronze service stars are already listed thereon.)

2.  Furthermore, based on the documentation obtained from the National Archives, it appears that the applicant was in fact an infantryman at the time he was wounded in Korea and is entitled to the CIB.

3.  The Korean War Service Medal is available to veterans of the Korean War. However, the determination of eligibility and the issuance of the award are handled by the US Air Force.  The applicant should provided a copy of his DD Form 214 together with a request that he be issued the award to the US Air Force Personnel Center, 550 C Street West, Randolph AFB, Texas 78150-4714.

4.  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 individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart, the UNSM and the CIB.

2.  That the applicant contact the US Air Force concerning award of the Korean War Service Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

___jh ___  ____mhm  _____ewl   GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__________June Hajjar__________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000050513	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20010801	
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.