PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           7 August 2001      
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001056633

	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	
	Ms. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Margaret K. Patterson		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas B. Redfern		Member	
	Ms. Regan K. Smith		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, correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) with an effective date of 4 October 1952 to show award of the Purple Heart for wounds received as a result of action with enemy forces on 3 September 1950 in Korea.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he was wounded in action on 3 September 1950 in Korea and was awarded the Purple Heart while in the hospital in Osaka, Japan.  However, his discharge document does not reflect this award or that he was wounded in action.  In support of his application, he submits medical documentation to support his claim. 

4.  The applicant’s military records were destroyed or lost during the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show that the applicant enlisted on 
16 September 1947.  He served as an infantryman in Korea and was honorably discharged on 4 October 1952.  After a break in service, the applicant enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on 1 October 1953 and remained on active duty through continuous reenlistments until he retired in the rank of staff sergeant on 
30 September 1968.

5.  Item 27 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) on the applicant’s DD Form 214 with an effective date of 4 October 1952 does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award.  Item 29 (Wounds Received as a Result of Action with Enemy Forces) on the DD Form 214 shows the entry “None”.

6.  The applicant provided a copy of a medical record, dated 5 September 1950, which shows the applicant was wounded in action on 3 September 1950 in South Korea.  The medical record shows he sustained a shell fragment wound to his right shoulder when he was struck by enemy artillery shell fragments.  The medical record also shows the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart by Osaka Army Hospital General Orders Number 106, dated 7 September 1950. 

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Medical evidence of record shows the applicant was wounded in action on 
3 September 1950 and was awarded the Purple Heart on 7 September 1950.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of items 27 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) and 29 (Wounds Received as a Result of Action with Enemy Forces) on his DD Form 214 with an effective date of 4 October 1952 to show award of the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 3 September 1950 in Korea.

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: 

	a.  by adding the entry “Purple Heart” in item 27 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) on the DD Form 214 with an effective date of 4 October 1952 of the individual concerned;  

	b.  by deleting the entry “None” in item 29 (Wounds Received as a Result of Action with Enemy Forces) on his DD Form 214; and

	c.  by adding the entry “Korea, 3 September 1950” in item 29 on the DD Form 214. 

BOARD VOTE:  

MKP____  TBR____  RKS____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Margaret K. Patterson
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001056633	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20010807	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.