PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:           31 March 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999031980

	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
Mr. David H. Keller		Director
Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. James E. Vick		Chairperson	
	Mr. Stanley Kelley		Member	
	Mr. John P. Infante		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 was wounded in combat while in Vietnam in 1970.  He states he received a stomach wound and was treated at Chu Lai Army Hospital.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted on 29 April 1969 and was trained in military occupational specialty (MOS) 11D, Armor Reconnaissance Specialist.  After training, he was assigned to Vietnam and served with Troop F, 17th Cavalry.

5.  Available medical records show he sustained a small 5 mm steel fragment wound to the abdomen as a result of hostile action on 29 June 1970.  He was treated for his injury and returned to duty in 5 days.

6.  The applicant was honorably discharged on 28 April 1971 at Fort Knox, Kentucky.  His DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) shows his awards and decorations as the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Army Commendation Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster).

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as a result of hostile action.  Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify that the wound was the result of hostile action, the wound must have required treatment by a medical officer, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.

8.  The regulation also authorizes award of a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation and states that authorized service stars will be worn on the appropriate service medal.

9.  Army Pamphlet 672-3 lists the time periods for which various units were awarded unit citations.  The organization to which the applicant was assigned in Vietnam was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm during the period of his assignment.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was wounded on 29 June 1970 as a result of hostile action in Vietnam and is therefore entitled to award of the Purple Heart.

2.  The applicant served under four campaigns during his service in Vietnam and is entitled to three Bronze Service Stars with his Vietnam Service Medal.

3.  The applicant is entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm based on his assignment with Troop F, 17th Cavalry, in Vietnam.

4.  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, three Bronze Service Stars with his Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.

BOARD VOTE:  

_jev____  __sk____  __jpi ____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		     __James E. Vick___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999031980	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000531	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.