IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 8 March 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150008513 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant, the widow of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests the Purple Heart (PH) be added to the FSM’s DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States). 2. The applicant states: a. the FSM was wounded in Korea entitling him to the PH; however, through no fault of his own, it was never awarded to him; b. although his record has since been lost in a fire, it was available at the time the FSM should have received the PH; and c. due to the Army’s dereliction of duty, the FSM did not have the PH at the time of discharge. 3. The applicant provides the following documents: * a letter from the Sandusky County Veterans Service Office, Fremont, Ohio * a self-authored statement * the FSM's DD Form 214 * Certification of Military Service * Certificate of Death * two envelopes addressed to and from The Military Order of the PH (MOPH), Incorporated, with a letter and 4 enclosures * articles describing the PH CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The FSM's complete military records are not available to the Board for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members’ records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. This case is being considered using the documents provided by the applicant which includes a partially legible DD Form 214 and other official Army sources. 2. The FSM’s DD Form 214 shows he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 10 January 1951 and continued to serve until he was honorably discharged on 10 October 1952. He completed 1 year, 9 months, and 1 day of creditable active service. 3. Item 29 (Wounds Received as a Result of Action with Enemy Forces) of the DD Form 214 contains the entry "Shrapnel Flesh Wound – rt thigh." Item 27 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) is partially illegible but clearly shows he earned the following awards: * Army of Occupation Medal (Japan) * Korean Service Medal with 3 bronze service stars * United Nations Service Medal 4. During the processing of this case, a member of the Board’s staff reviewed the Department of the Army (DA) Korean War Casualty Roster. The FSM’s name is listed on this roster as having been wounded in action on 14 October 1951. 5. The applicant provides copies of a: a. postmarked envelope from the MOPH addressed to the FSM; b. letter from the MOPH, explaining the organization and how to become a member; and c. news article that indicated The Adjutant General of the Army notified the FSM’s parents by telegram that he was wounded in Korea on 4 October (year unknown). 6. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) contains the Army's awards policy. Paragraph 2-8 contains the regulatory guidance pertaining to awarding the PH. It states that in order to award a PH there must be evidence the wound for which the award is being made was received as a result of enemy action, the wound required treatment by military medical personnel, and a record of the medical treatment was made a matter of official record. 7. Paragraph 2-10 of Army Regulation 600-8-22 contains guidance on award of the National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) and states this award is authorized for honorable active service for any period between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954. 8. Paragraph 9-16 of Army Regulation 600-8-22 contains guidance on award of the Republic of Korea War Service Medal (ROKWSM) and states it is authorized for service in Korea between 25 June 1950 and 27 July 1953. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant contends the FSM's record should be corrected to show the PH based on the wounds he received in Korea. There is sufficient evidence to support this claim. 2. The available evidence in this case as shown in item 29 of the FSM’s DD Form 214 confirms he was wounded in action when he sustained a shrapnel wound in his right thigh. In addition, his name is listed on the Department of the Army Korean Casualty Roster. This information corroborates the applicant’s claim. Therefore, it would be appropriate to award the FSM the PH and add it to his DD Form 214 at this time. 3. The evidence also shows that based on the FSM’s active service and service in Korea, he is eligible for the NDSM and ROKWSM which also should be added to his DD Form 214 at this time. BOARD VOTE: ____X___ ____X___ ____X___ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding the PH for being wounded in action in the Republic of Korea on 14 October 1951; and b. amending item 27 of his DD Form 214 by adding the PH, NDSM, and ROKWSM. _____________X___________ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150008513 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150008513 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1