PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           23 August 2001                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001059340

	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	
	Mrs. Nancy Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John H. Kern		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas Lanyi		Member	
	Ms. Paula Mokulis		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 the Purple Heart be added to his Report of Transfer or Discharge, DD Form 214.

3.  The applicant makes no additional statement.  He provides a copy of his Purple Heart certificate as supporting evidence.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army on 25 April 1967.  He arrived in Vietnam on or about 30 September 1967.  He was assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division as a rifleman.  He was wounded in action on 2 February 1968, medically evacuated to Japan, and later medically evacuated to Walter Reed General Hospital.  He was discharged from the hospital on or about 15 April 1968 and transferred to Fort Carson, CO.  He was honorably released from active duty on 24 April 1969 after completing 2 years of creditable active service with no lost time.  His Enlisted Qualification Record, DA Form 20, shows that his conduct and efficiency had been rated as “excellent” throughout his service.

5.  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.

6.  Army Regulation 672-5-1, in effect at the time, provided policy and criteria concerning individual military decorations.  It stated that the Army Good Conduct Medal was awarded for each 3 years of continuous enlisted active Federal military service completed on or after 27 August 1940 and, for the first award only, upon termination of service on or after 27 June 1950 of less than 3 years but more than 1 year.  At the time, a soldier’s conduct and efficiency ratings must have been rated as “excellent” for the entire period of qualifying service.

7.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 shows that the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class for the period 1 October 1966 – 31 October 1969 and the Presidential Unit Citation for the period 29 October – 30 November 1967.  Later, all units assigned to Vietnam were awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows that the applicant was wounded in action.  It appears he was awarded the Purple Heart and therefore the Purple Heart should be entered on his DD Form 214.

2.  The applicant also met the eligibility criteria for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal.
3.  In addition, the applicant was assigned to a unit during a period of time that unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.

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 awarding the applicant the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 25 April 1967 – 24 April 1969.

2.  That the applicant’s DD Form 214 be amended to add the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.

BOARD VOTE:  

__jhk___  __tl____  __pm____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			John H. Kern
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001059340	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20010823	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	110.04	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.