PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:          6 November 2003    
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2003091773

	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. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Stanley Kelley		Chairperson	
	Mr. Raymond J. Wagner		Member	
	Ms. Mae M. Bullock		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 correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) for the period ending 11 June 1953 to show award of the Purple Heart.

3.  The applicant states that he received the medal when he was discharged but it is not reflected on his DD Form 214 for the period ending 11 June 1953.  In support of his application, he submits two DD Forms 214 for the periods ending 11 June 1953 and 6 October 1955.

4.  The applicant’s military records have been lost or destroyed.  This case is being considered using reconstructed records.  The applicant's reconstructed records consist primarily of the DD Forms 214 and pay records.

5.  The applicant's reconstructed records show the applicant was inducted on 
8 June 1951.  He served as an infantryman in Korea and was released from active duty on 11 June 1953.  He entered active duty again on 7 October 1954 and was honorably discharged on 6 October 1955. 

6.  The applicant's DD Form 214 for the period ending 11 June 1953 shows the Korean Service Medal with two bronze service stars and the Combat Infantryman Badge as authorized awards.

7.  Item 29 (Wounds Received as a Result of Action with Enemy Forces) on this DD Form 214 shows the applicant was wounded in Korea on 24 September 1952.

8.  The Korean Casualty Roster also shows the applicant was wounded in action on 24 September 1952.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as a result of hostile action.  Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify that the wound was the result of hostile action, the wound must have required treatment, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service for any period between 27 July 1950 through 27 July 1954, 1 January 1961 through 14 August 1974, 2 August 1990 through 30 November 1995 and 11 September 2001 to a date to be determined.

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides for award of the United Nations Service Medal.  In pertinent part, the regulation states that the period of eligibility for the United Nations Service Medal was between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954.  The regulation provides that this service medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States dispatched to Korea or adjacent areas on behalf of the United Nations.  Award of the Korean Service Medal automatically establishes eligibility for award of the United Nations Service Medal.

12.  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 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.

13.  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 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.  Evidence of record and item 29 on the applicant’s DD Form 214 for the period ending 11 June 1953 show he was wounded in action on 24 September 1952 in Korea.  However, item 27 on this DD Form 214 does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award.  Thus, the Board finds the applicant is entitled to award of the Purple Heart and to a correction of item 27 on this DD Form 214 to show award of the Purple Heart.

2.  The applicant served a period of qualifying service for award of the National Defense Service Medal.  Therefore, his DD Form 214 for the period ending 
11 June 1953 should be corrected to show this medal.

3.  Based on award of the Korean Service Medal, the applicant is entitled to award of the United Nations Service Medal.  Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this medal.

4.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 24 September 1952 in Korea.

2.  That the applicant's DD Form 214 for the period ending 11 June 1953 be corrected to show award of the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

SK_____  RJW____  MMB_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Stanley Kelley______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003091773	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20031106	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.	107.0000	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.