RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2013-02003 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Purple Heart (PH) Medal. ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He should be awarded the PH due to a bullet wound to his left calf while serving in Vietnam. Due to combat conditions he was unaware that he sustained a gunshot wound. He thought an object grazed his calf and cut him. He further states he did not receive medical care or treatment. In support of his request, the applicant submits a personal statement, documentation from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and a copy of his DD Form 214, Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge. The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ _ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant served on active duty from 11 May 1966 to 9 January 1970, as an Inventory Management Specialist. The PH is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who have been wounded, killed, or who have died or may hereafter die of wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States or opposing force as a result of an act of any such enemy or opposing armed force, an international terrorist attack or during military operations while serving as a part of a peacekeeping force. A wound which the award is made must have required treatment, not merely examination, by a medical officer. Additionally, treatment of the wound shall be documented in the service member’s medical and/or health record. Award of the PH may be made for wounds treated by a medical professional other than a medical officer, provided a medical officer includes a statement in the service member’s medical record that the extent of the wounds were such that they would have required treatment by a medical officer if one had been available to treat them. ________________________________________________________________ _ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial. DPSID states after a thorough review of the applicant’s official military record, they were unable to locate official documentation to verify award of the PH. They did however locate documentation that could present inconsistencies in the applicant’s recollection of events. The applicant was reprimanded on three different occasions. On two occasions his whereabouts, from his place of duty, without permission from his supervisor, were unknown. By the applicant’s own admission, he was involved in a vehicle related accident in April 1969, in an illegally appropriated government vehicle. The vehicle he was driving was hit by another truck and damaged the front fender and sideswiped the entire side of the truck. This incident was not reported until the next morning. There was no medical documentation presented with this request for the PH to substantiate medical treatment for an injury caused by enemy action was not only required but also received at the time the injury occurred nor were there any eyewitness statements. In addition, due to the timeliness of the submission, an accurate recollection by any surviving eyewitness would be limited as memories have faded with the passage of time. There is no evidence of an error or an injustice in this case. To grant the applicant relief would be contrary to the eligibility criteria. The DPSID complete evaluation is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ _ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: On 31 October 2013, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). As of this date, this office has received no response. ________________________________________________________________ _ THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations. 2. The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. The applicant’s contentions are duly noted; however, after reviewing the evidence of record we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the applicant has not provided sufficient evidence that validates his entitlement to the Purple Heart Medal. Therefore, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this application. ________________________________________________________________ _ THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice; the application was denied without a personal appearance; and the application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application. ________________________________________________________________ _ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2013-02003 in Executive Session on 7 January 2014, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: The following documentary evidence was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 12 October 2012, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 23 August 2013. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 31 October 2013.