PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           16 October 2001    
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001059771

	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:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor		Chairperson	
	Mr. Donald P. Hupman		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 award of the Purple Heart.

3.  The applicant states that he is entitled to award of the Purple Heart for injuries to his head on 24 January 1968 in Vietnam.  In support of his application, he submits a letter of explanation, dated 26 June 2001; a Standard Form 600 (Chronological Record of Medical Care), dated 25 January 1968; a copy of his retirement DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) with an effective date of 31 December 1980; and a copy of his DA Form 
20 (Enlisted Qualification Record).  

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted on 29 December 1958 for a period of 3 years.  He served as a light weapons infantryman and was honorably released from active duty on 14 June 1962 and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve.  He entered active duty again on 8 June 1964.  The applicant served as a supply sergeant in Vietnam from 3 October 1967 through 2 October 1968 and from 9 September 1969 through 9 September 1970.  He remained on active duty through continuous reenlistments until he retired in the rank of first sergeant on 31 December 1980.    

5.  The applicant’s military records contain two discharge documents.  One DD Form 214 covers the applicant’s active duty service from 29 December 1958 through 14 June 1962 and the other DD Form 214 covers his period of active duty service from 27 February 1976 through 31 December 1980.  These DD Forms 214 do not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award.

6.  The applicant provided a copy of a Standard Form 600 (Chronological Record of Medical Care), dated 25 January 1968, which shows he sustained a fragment wound to his head in Vietnam.
 
7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) 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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Medical evidence of record shows the applicant sustained a fragment wound to his head on 25 January 1968 in Vietnam.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his military records to show award of the Purple Heart.

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 by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 25 January 1968. 

BOARD VOTE:  

RVO___  DPH_____  RKS_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_Raymond V. O’Connor_____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001059771	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20011016	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	 	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.