PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:           27 JUNE 2002                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002072828

	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. Irene N. Wheelwright		Chairperson	
	Ms. Kathleen A. Newman		Member	
	Mr. Richard T. Dunbar		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 DD Form 214 be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart.  

3.  The applicant states that he was wounded in Korea on 27 November 1950 and was awarded the Purple Heart.  He provides a copy of a hospital admission card created by The Office of the Surgeon General, a copy of a telegram sent to his parents, and a copy of a newspaper clipping. 

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

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 (Report of Separation) shows that he enlisted in the Army for three years on 17 January 1949 and had 2 years, 2 months, and   19 days of foreign service.  He was discharged in the rank of Private First Class on 17 June 1952, having been retained in the service for 5 months and 1 day for the convenience of the government.  He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal with five bronze service stars, and the Army Occupation Medal.   

6.  Information from a hospital admission card created by the Office of The Surgeon General shows that the applicant was wounded in action and admitted to a hospital on 30 November 1950.  That record shows his unit as the 35th Infantry Regiment.  A 2 January 1951 telegram to the applicant’s mother informed her that the applicant had been wounded in action in Korean on 27 November 1950.  A newspaper article provides information that he was wounded in action.

7.  On 9 April 2002 the National Personnel Records Center authorized the issuance of the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan clasp, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with one silver service star, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the United Nations Service Medal, to the applicant. 

8.  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.

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

10.  The United Nations Service Medal is award for service in the Korean War.  Personnel awarded the Korean Service Medal automatically establish eligibility for award of the United Nations Service Medal.

11.  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, Headquarters, 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 during the Korean War on 27 November 1950.  He is entitled to award of the Purple Heart and his DD Form 214 should reflect that award. 

2.  The applicant served his country faithfully and honorably during his military service.  He should be awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period   17 January 1949 through 16 January 1952.

3.  The applicant is entitled to award of the National Defense Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal.

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 Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

_INW ___  __KAN __  __RTD__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Irene N. Wheelwright__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002072828	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020627	
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.