PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:           10 OCTOBER 2002                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002072396

	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:

	Mr. Raymond J. Wagner		Chairperson	
	Mr. Roger W. Able		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 award of the Purple Heart. 

3.  The applicant states that he received the Purple Heart in Japan for injuries and wounds received on “Heartbreak” mountain in Korea.  He was awarded the Purple Heart; however, his WD AGO Form 55 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) does not reflect that award.  His injuries were incurred on 23 February 1952.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army on   2 November 1945 and was discharged on 14 March 1946 because of dependency.  He was inducted into the Army again on 15 November 1950, served in Korea, and was awarded the Korean Service Medal with one bronze service star, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the United Nations Service Medal.  His separation document does not show award of the Purple Heart, but does show that he was wounded in action in Korea on 23 February 1952.  He was released from active duty on 7 November 1952 in the rank of private first class with an honorable characterization of service.  He had 1 year, 11 months, and 23 days of service and no lost time. 

5.  Information from the hospital admission cards created by the Office of The Surgeon General show that the applicant sustained a wound to his femur as a direct result of action against the enemy on 23 February 1952.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  This period is 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Although there is no automatic entitlement to the Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified.  
 
7.  The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service for any period between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was wounded in action on 23 February 1952.  He is entitled to award of the Purple Heart.

2.  The applicant served his country faithfully and honorably.  He is entitled to award of the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 15 November 1950 through 7 November 1952.  He is also entitled to award of the National Defense Service Medal.

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 showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart as a result of being wounded in action in Korea on 23 February 1952; that he was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 15 November 1950 through 7 November 1952; and that he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.  

BOARD VOTE:  

__RJW__  __RWA__  __JTM __  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Raymond J. Wagner__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002072396	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20021010	
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.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.