PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:           10 January 2002                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001060949

	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. Rosa M. Chandler		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Mr. Ted S. Kanamine		Member	
	Mr. John T. Meixell		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 correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Purple Heart (PH).  

3.  The applicant states that he was awarded the PH due to a wound that he received while serving in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) in May 1967.  In support of his request, he submits a copy of his DD Form 214; a Western Union Telegram, dated 10 May 1967, stating that he had been wounded; and a copy of his certificate showing award of the PH.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 8 September 1964.  He served in military occupational specialty (MOS) 12B, Combat Engineer.  He served in the RVN from 23 July 1966 through 22 July 1967 with Company B, 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Infantry Division.  

5.  Item 40 (Wounds) of the applicant's DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows that he received shrapnel wounds to his left arm and to his right leg on 10 May 1967.

6.  On 10 May 1967, the Army notified the applicant's parents by Western Union telegram that he had been slightly wounded on the same date as a result of hostile action. The telegram states that the applicant received metal fragment wounds to his arms when an enemy rocket hit the bulldozer on which he was a passenger during a clearing operation.  He was treated at the 24th Evacuation Hospital.

7.  The certificate that the applicant submitted shows that he was awarded the PH by the Commander, 24th Evacuation Hospital, on 12 May 1967 for wounds received in action during the month of May 1967 in the RVN.

8.  The applicant departed on or about 18 July 1967 for reassignment to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.  On 19 June 1968, the applicant was honorably separated and transferred to the United States Army Reserve.  His DD Form 214 shows that he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Marksman Badge (Rifle M-14), the Sharpshooter Badge (Pistol Caliber .45) and two overseas service bars.  

9.  AR 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the PH is awarded for a wound sustained as a result of hostile action.  Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify that:  (1) the wound was the result of hostile action; (2) the wound required medical treatment; and (3) the medical treatment was made a matter of official record.

10.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists the unit awards received by units serving in Vietnam.  This document shows the unit to which the applicant was assigned was cited for award of the:  Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) for the period 3 June 1966-15 April 1967 by Department of the Army General Order (DAGO) Number 10, dated 1968; the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation for the period 12 July 1965-16 October 1968 by DAGO Number 21, dated 1969; and the Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class for the period 12 July 1965-7 April 1970 by DAGO Number 53, dated 1970.  It also shows that he served in Vietnam during two campaigns and is therefore entitled to two Bronze Service Stars (BSS) for his VSM.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show award of the PH for the wounds he received on 10 May 1967.  

2.  The applicant is also entitled to have his records corrected to show award of the MUC, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, the RVN Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class and the VSM with two BSS's.

3.  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 issuing to the individual concerned a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214) to show award of the PH, the MUC, the RVN Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, the RVN Civil Actions Honor Medal, First Class, and two BSS for his Vietnam Service Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

_FNE___  __TSK___  __JTM__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_   _Fred N. Eichorn____________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001060949	
SUFFIX		
RECON	 	
DATE BOARDED	20010110 	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19680619	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.