PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           25 October 2001    
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001060317

	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 J. Wagner		Chairperson	
	Ms. Kathleen A. Newman		Member	
	Mr. Ronald E. Blakely		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 Combat Medical Badge and an unspecified Korean Medal.

3.  The applicant states that these awards are missing on his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States).  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his DD Form 214.  

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 was inducted on 
14 November 1951, served in Korea and was honorably discharged on 
16 November 1953.

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

6.  Item 5 (Qualifications/Specialty Number or Symbol) on the applicant’s DD Form 214 shows the entry “NA” [not applicable].  However, his DD Form 214 does show that he was a member of the Medical Corps branch and his most significant duty assignment was the Medical Company, 32nd Infantry Regiment during his assignment in Korea.  His discharge document also shows that he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 18 October 1952 in Korea.

7.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists the unit awards received by units serving in the Korean conflict.  This document shows the unit, to which the applicant was assigned, was cited for award of the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for actions during the period 30 September 1950 to 27 July 1953 by Department of the Army General Orders Number 22-56. 

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Medical Badge is awarded to medical department personnel (colonel and below) who are assigned or attached to a medical unit of company or smaller size that is organic to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental or smaller size which is engaged in active ground combat.  Battle participation credit is not sufficient; the infantry unit must have been in contact with the enemy.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows the applicant was a member of the Medical Corps branch and his most significant duty assignment was the Medical Company, 32nd Infantry Regiment during his assignment in Korea.  

2.  Evidence of record also shows that he was wounded in action on 18 October 1952 in Korea.  

3.  Based on the foregoing, the Board determined that the applicant met the qualifications for award of the Combat Medical Badge.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show award of the Combat Medical Badge. 

4.  The applicant’s unit was cited for the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation while he was assigned to it.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show this unit award.

5.  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 Combat Medical Badge and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

BOARD VOTE:  

RJW___  KAN_____  REB_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Raymond J. Wagner_____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001060317	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20011025	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0113	
2.	107.0092	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.