PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           11 May 2000                 
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999031670

	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	
	Mr. W. E. Schnupp		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. James M. Alward		Member	
	Mr. Christopher J. Prosser		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.  

3.  The applicant states that he should have been awarded the Purple Heart for his combat wounds.

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center.  Information herein is based on information obtained from alternate sources.

5.  The only available personnel record regarding the applicant is a copy of a Certificate of Military Service issued to him on 14 October 1980.  This certificate shows that he performed active service from 1 September 1950 to 22 July 1952 and was released Under Honorable Conditions in the grade of private.  There is no information available relating to any awards he may have received during his service.

6.  Medical records obtained from the DVA confirm his active duty time and that he served in Korea and was wounded by enemy fire.  Additional information was obtained from Hospital Admission Cards created by the Office of the Surgeon General that show he was admitted to an Army Treatment Facility in Korea on   12 March 1952 suffering from fragmentation wounds to the arm, abdomen and back resulting from enemy action.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record clearly shows that the applicant suffered wounds received in combat in Korea on or about 12 March 1952 which entitle him to the Purple Heart.

2. Unfortunately, because the applicant has no separation document, a            DD Form 215, Correction of DD Form 214, which is normally used to correct the separation document and show his entitlement to the award, cannot be issued.  The Commander, AR-PERSCOM, will, however, be requested to issue the applicant a DA Form 1577, Authorization for Issuance of Awards, which will serve as official documentation from the Army of his entitlement to the Purple Heart.

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 by:

	a.  showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action in Korea on 12 March 1952; and

	b.  issuing to him a DA Form 1577 as evidence of his entitlement to the Purple Heart.

BOARD VOTE:  

___rvo __  ___jma__  ___cjp __  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_________Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr._____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999031670	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000511	
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.