PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            2 March 2000      
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999029939

	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.  

	Ms. Deborah L. Brantley		Senior Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Edwin S. Castle		Chairperson	
	Ms. Kathleen A. Newman		Member	
	Ms. Debra Williams		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 award of the Purple Heart.  He states he sustained an injury to his knee on 5 December 1968 when he was hit by “an illumination flare.” He notes that he was evacuated for treatment and told he would receive the Purple Heart.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty on 14 May 1968 and was assigned to Vietnam as an infantryman in October 1968.  According to an entry in item 40 (wounds) on his DA Form 20 (enlisted qualification record) he sustained “burns, scraps med” as a result of hostile action on 5 December 1968.  In March 1969 he was assigned limited duty as a duty soldier.  The applicant’s wound is confirmed in an entry on his separation physical examination completed in March 1970 which notes “scar on medial knee.”  There is, however, no indication he was ever awarded the Purple Heart.

4.  The applicant returned to the United States in October 1969 and on 13 May 1970 was released from active duty.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence in available records supports a conclusion that the applicant was wounded while in Vietnam on 5 December 1968 and as such is entitled to an award of the Purple Heart.

2.  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 awarding the individual concerned the Purple Heart for wounds sustained on 
5 December 1968 while in Vietnam.

BOARD VOTE:  

__esc___  ____kan_  ____dw__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Edwin S. Castle____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999029939	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000302	
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.