PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           22 October 2002                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002074130

	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. W. E. Schnupp		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Ms. Shirley L. Powell		Member	
	Mr. Elzey J. Arledge, Jr.		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 discharge be corrected to show that he was awarded the Purple Heart.

3.  The applicant states that the Purple Heart is not shown on his discharge or separation papers.

4.  In support of his request, he submits a copy of a telegram from The Adjutant General (TAG) of the Army, to his mother announcing that he had been wounded in action in Belgium during World War II; a copy of WD AGO Form 38, Report of Physical Examination of Enlisted Personnel Prior to Discharge, Release from Active Duty or Retirement, showing that he had shrapnel scars on the back and shoulder; a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, from his World War II service and a copy of DD Form 214, Report of Separation, following his service in the Korean War. 

5.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted on 1 May 1944 and served as an automatic rifleman in the European Theater of Operations from 13 November 1944 to 4 April 1946, with Company L, 330th Infantry Regiment.  He was honorably released at demobilization on 24 April 1946, in the rank of corporal.  He reentered the active Army from the Army National Guard on 1 September 1950, served in Korea from 22 January 1952 to 5 May 1952, as an infantryman with Company K, 223rd Infantry Regiment, and was honorably released back to the Army National Guard on 29 May 1952, as a master sergeant.

6.  Awards reflected on his WD AGO Form 53-55 include the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (with credit for 3 campaigns), the Combat Infantryman Badge and the World War II Honorable Service Lapel Button.  His DD Form 214 shows the following awards: the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp, the Korean Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, the CIB (2nd award), and the United Nations Service Medal.  On 8 January 2000, at his request, the National Personnel Records Center authorized the issuance of all of the previously mentioned awards as well as the Bronze Star Medal, based on his World War II award of the CIB, the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

7.  The evidence, in the form of the telegram from TAG and his separation medical examination, establish that he was wounded in action in Belgium during World War II.

8.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, shows that during the applicant’s assignment to his 

World War II unit, Company L, 330th Infantry Regiment, the unit was awarded occupation credit for Germany from 2 May to 31 October 1945.  While assigned to Company K, 223rd Infantry Regiment, during the Korean War, the unit was awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and campaign credit for the Korea Summer-Fall 1952, campaign, in addition to the credit for the three campaigns already shown on his DD Form 214.

9.  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 Korea 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 service award to eligible US veterans of the Korean War, or their surviving next of kin.  The medal is provided at no cost to veterans.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record clearly shows that the applicant was wounded in action in Belgium during World War II and is entitled to the Purple Heart for those wounds, and to have it shown on his separation papers.

2.  Furthermore, his service in both World War II and the Korean War authorize him the following additional awards: Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and campaign credit for the Korea Summer-Fall 1952 campaign.

3.  The Department of Defense assigned responsibility to the Department of the Air Force for distribution of the Korean War Service Medal to eligible veterans or their surviving next of kin.  To apply, veterans must submit a copy of their discharge paper (DD Form 214) to the Awards and Decorations Section, Headquarters, Air Force Personnel Center, 550 C Street West Suite 12, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas 78150-4714.  A sample request form is being provided to the applicant.  Once the Department of the Air Force has authorized the Korean War Service Medal, the applicant may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records to add this foreign award to his or her DD Form 214.

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 for wounds suffered in Belgium during World War II, the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and campaign participation credit for the Korea Summer-Fall 1952 campaign.

BOARD VOTE:  

___fne __  ____slp__  ____eja_  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		________Fred N. Eichorn______________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002074130	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20021022	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT PLUS)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  107.00		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.