PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:     

	BOARD DATE:           09 MAY 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002068365

	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	
	Mr. Kenneth H. Aucock		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Joann H. Langston		Chairperson	
	Mr. John N. Slone		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 that his record reflect award of the Purple Heart. 

3.  The applicant states that he was wounded and medically evacuated to Japan in 1950, but was never awarded the Purple Heart.  He indicates that his unit at that time was Company B, 35th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. 

4.  The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Information herein was obtained from alternate sources.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows that he entered on active duty on           14 October 1948 and was discharged on 25 July 1952 with the rank of Corporal.  He had 3 years, 9 months, and 12 days of service, of which 2 years, 3 months, and 15 days were foreign service.  His DD Form 214 shows award of the Army Occupation Medal with Japan clasp, the Korean Service Medal with five bronze service stars, and the Good Conduct Medal.  It does not show award of the Purple Heart, even though it indicates that he was wounded in action on             25 November 1950.  Hospital admission cards created by the Office of the Surgeon General also show that he was wounded in action on 25 November 1950, and that his unit number was 0035.

6.  The 35th Infantry Regiment was awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for its actions during the period the applicant was assigned to that organization.

7.  The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service for any period between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954.

8.  The United Nations Service Medal is awarded for service in Korea between    27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954.  Personnel awarded the Korean Service Medal automatically establish eligibility for the United Nations Service Medal.

9.  Paragraph 6-7 of Army Regulation 600-8-22 pertaining to awards states that a silver service star is worn instead of five bronze service stars on campaign and service medals.

10.  As a matter of information, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Korean War, the Government of the Republic of Korea issued the Korean War Service Medal to pay tribute to eligible Korean War veterans for their historic endeavors to preserve the freedom of the Republic of Korea and the free world.  On 20 August 1999, the Department of Defense approved acceptance and wear of this foreign award.  The Department of Defense has assigned responsibility to the Department of the Air Force for distribution of the Korean War Service Medal to eligible veterans of all services.  To apply, veterans must provide a copy of their discharge paper to the Awards and Decorations Section, Headquarter, Air Force Personnel Center, 550 C Street West, Suite 12, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas 78150-4714.  Once the Korean War Service Medal has been authorized by the Department of the Air Force, the applicant may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records to add this foreign award to his DD Form 214.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was wounded in action.  He is entitled to award of the Purple Heart.

2.  The applicant is also entitled to the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, the National Defense Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal.

3.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 should be corrected to show award of the Korean Service Medal with one silver service star.

4.  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, the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, and the Korean Service Medal with one silver service star. 

BOARD VOTE:  

__JHL___  __JNS __  __TLP __  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Joann H. Langston___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002068365	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020509	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.	61	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.