PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:  8 April 2003
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2002076787

	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	
	Ms. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond J. Wagner		Chairperson	
	Ms. Linda M. Barker		Member	
	Ms. Barbara J. Ellis		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 correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) to show that he was awarded the Purple Heart.

3.  The applicant states that he was awarded the Purple Heart while serving in Korea and that he returned to his front line company after being hospitalized for his injury.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his DD Form 214.

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show he entered active duty on 9 February 1951.  He served in Korea and was honorably discharged on 21 January 1954.  

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the Korean Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. 

6.  Item 29 of the applicant’s DD Form 214, which was authenticated in his own hand, shows that he was wounded in Korea on 10 April 1952.  There is no record that the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart.

7.  The Korean War Casualty Roster shows the applicant was wounded in action on 10 April 1952.

8.  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, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.

9.  As a matter of information, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Korean War, the Government of the Republic of Korea issued the Korean War Service Medal to pay tribute to eligible Korean War veterans for their historic endeavors to preserve the freedom of the Republic of Korea and the free world.  On 20 August 1999, the Department of Defense approved acceptance and wear of this foreign service award to eligible US veterans of the Korean War, or their surviving next of kin. The medal is provided at no cost to veterans.

10.  The Department of Defense assigned responsibility to the Department of the Air Force for distribution of the Korean War Service Medal to eligible veterans or their surviving next of kin.  To apply, veterans must submit a copy of their discharge paper (DD Form 214) to the Awards and Decorations Section, Headquarters, Air Force Personnel Center, 550 C Street West, Suite 12, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas 78150-4714.  A sample request form is being provided to the applicant.  Once the Korean War Service Medal has been authorized by the Department of the Air Force, the applicant may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records to add this foreign award to his DD Form 214.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows that the applicant was wounded in action on 10 April 1952 while serving in Korea.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show that he was awarded 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 for the individual concerned be corrected by showing in item 27 (Awards and Decorations) of his DD Form 214 that he was awarded the Purple Heart 
for wounds received on 10 April 1952.  

BOARD VOTE:  

__rw___  ___lb___  ___be___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Raymond J. Wagner__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002076787	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20030408	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19540121	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365	
DISCHARGE REASON	HD	
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	46	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.