PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:          21 June 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR200157174

	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. William Blakely		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Chairperson	
	Ms. Barbara J. Lutz		Member	
	Mr. Harry B. Oberg		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 his military records reflect award of the Purple Heart (PH). 

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that PH was omitted from his Armed Forces Of The United States Report Of Transfer Or Discharge (DD Form 214) at the time of his discharge.  In support of his application his submits a copy of General Order #84 issued by Headquarters, 17th Field Hospital dated 13 April 1970 and a copy of his DD Form 214. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered the Army on 
30 January 1969.  He was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 11B (Light Weapons Infantryman).  His awards include the Bronze Star Medal with “V” Device, the Army Commendation Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the National Defense Service Medal.  He was honorably released from active duty on 30 November 1971, in pay grade E-5.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show the PH as an authorized award.

6.  General Orders #84 issued by Headquarters, 17th Field Hospital, dated 
13 April 1970, provided by the applicant shows he was awarded the PH for wounds received in the Republic of Vietnam.

7.  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, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.  As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was awarded the PH as indicated in General Orders #84 issued by Headquarters, 17th Field Hospital, dated 13 April 1970, for wounds received in the Republic of Vietnam.  Therefore, he is entitled to have his DD Form 214 corrected to show award of the PH.

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 showing that the individual concerned, be corrected by showing that he was awarded the PH. 

BOARD VOTE:  

__MHM__  __BJL___  __HBO__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Melvin H. Meyer____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001057174	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	2001/06/21	
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.