PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:        

	BOARD DATE:             1 June 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:     AR1999031697

	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. James C. Hise		Chairperson	
	Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.		Member	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		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 that his award of the Purple Heart be properly included on his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge.

3.  The applicant states that he was wounded in the left arm in Vietnam on         18 January 1968.  His commander presented him the Purple Heart and it was reflected in his record, but it was never entered on his DD Form 214.  

4.  In support of his request, he has provided a copy of his DD Form 214 (which does not reflect award of the Purple Heart) and a copy of his Enlisted Qualification Record showing that he suffered a gunshot wound to the left arm on 18 January 1968.

5.  The applicant’s military records show that he retired with over 20 years of service on 28 February 1981 in pay grade E-7.  The record also shows that during his career he served in Vietnam from March 1967 to March 1968 and again from September to October 1971.

6.  Block 40 (wounds) of his Enlisted Qualification Record, reflects the entry: “Gun shot left arm – 18 Jan 68”.  The record does not show that he was awarded the Purple Heart for that wound.  There are no other records in his file showing that he was wounded or describing how his wound was sustained.

7.  Army Regulation 600-200, Preparation and Maintenance of Enlisted Qualification Record, the regulation then in effect, provides that item 40 (wounds) of the Enlisted Qualification Record, will contain a brief description of wounds or injuries requiring medical treatment, received through hostile or enemy action, including those requiring hospitalization.  Enter the date wounded or injured.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows that the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action on 18 January 1968 and is entitled to the Purple Heart for that wound.

2.  Based on the foregoing, it would be appropriate to correct his DD Form 214 to show that he was awarded 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 Vietnam on 18 January 1968; and

b.  issuing a correction to his DD Form 214 reflecting the award of the Purple Heart.

BOARD VOTE:  

__jch____  ___rvo__  __mhm__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_________James C. Hise_____________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999031697	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000601	
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.