PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           8 January 2002                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001061628

	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. Luther L. Santiful		Chairperson	
	Mr. Roger W. Able		Member	
	Mr. Terry L. Placek		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 Report of Separation, DD Form 214, be amended to add the Purple Heart.

3.  The applicant states that he was given the Purple Heart in Korea.  They wanted his address to mail the telegram home but his mother was sick and he did not want a telegram that might upset her sent.  He provides no supporting evidence.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 26 September 1950.  He completed basic combat training and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupational specialty 1844 (Field Artillery Cannoneer).  

5.  The applicant arrived in Korea on 16 April 1951.  He was assigned to Battery A, 9th Field Artillery Battalion on 30 April 1951 as a field artillery cannoneer.  He departed Korea on or about 1 March 1952.  

6.  On 12 February 1953, the applicant requested he be authorized combat pay for the period he served in Korea.  On 26 May 1953, his request was denied as no evidence was found which indicated he served with any unit that qualified for combat pay.

7.  The applicant was separated on 25 September 1953.  His DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the Korean Service Medal with 4 bronze (service) stars and the United Nations Service Medal.

8.  On 18 January 1954, the applicant enlisted in the U. S. Navy Reserve.

9.  On 24 August 1954, the applicant was authorized, in addition to the awards shown on his DD Form 214, issuance of the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

10.  The applicant later served in the U. S. Army Reserve, again in the Regular Army, in the Army National Guard, and again in the U. S. Army Reserve.  He was discharged from the U. S. Army Reserve on 25 February 1976.

11.  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.

12.  A review of the historical files of Battery A, 9th Field Artillery Battalion failed to identify the applicant as being entitled to the Purple Heart.
CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board appreciates the applicant’s service in Korea but there is no evidence to show that he met the eligibility criteria for award of the Purple Heart.

2.  The evidence shows that the applicant was authorized issuance of the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and these awards should be added to his DD Form 214.

3.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That the applicant’s DD Form 214 be amended to add the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

__lls___  __rwa___  __tlp___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			Luther L. Santiful
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001061628	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20020108	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.