PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            31 JULY 2003                 
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2003088576

	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	
	Ms. Deborah L. Brantley		Senior Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Gail J. Wire		Chairperson	
	Ms. Karen A. Heinz		Member	
	Mr. Robert L. Duecaster		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 records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart.  In support of his request he submits a copy of the orders awarding him the Purple Heart, an extract from his service medical records indicating his treatment for shrapnel wounds, and a copy of his 1969 Department of Defense Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge).  

3.  The applicant's military personnel file was not available to the Board.  Information contained herein was reconstructed entirely from documents provided by the applicant.

4.  The applicant served on active duty between 16 May 1967 and 1 March 1969.  During his period of military service he was assigned in Vietnam for approximately 12 months.  The exact dates of his assignment to Vietnam were not available to the Board.  However, orders issued by the 41st Artillery Group on 22 May 1969, several months after the applicant's separation from active duty, awarded him the Purple Heart for wounds sustained on 19 January 1969.  The extract from the applicant's service medical records, also submitted by him in support of his request, confirm that he was treated on 20 January 1969 for shrapnel wound to his right arm.  His award of the Purple Heart was omitted from his separation document.

5.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 notes that all individuals assigned to Vietnam were entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm based on an award made to Headquarters, United States Army Vietnam and its subordinate units during the period 20 July 1965 to 28 March 1973.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms that the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in Vietnam in January 1969.  His records should be corrected accordingly.

2.  The Board also notes that the applicant is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm.  That award should also be added to his records.

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:

	a.  by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart; and

	b.  by showing that he is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm.

BOARD VOTE:  

__GJW__  __KAH __  __RLD__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____  Gail J. Wire______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003088576	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20030731	
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.