PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            24 JULY 2003                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002081296

	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. Kenneth H. Aucock		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		Chairperson	
	Mr. John P. Infante		Member	
	Ms. Yolanda Maldonado		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 the award of the Purple Heart be reflected on his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation). 

3.  The applicant states that he was wounded in combat in Korea in 1951. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he served in the National Guard in 1947 and 1948.  On 4 October 1950 the applicant was inducted into the Army.  He served in Korea as an infantryman with Company A, 65th Infantry Regiment of the 3d Infantry Division during the Korean War.  Although the dates of his service in Korea cannot be determined, he was assigned to the 65th when it was awarded the Bravery Gold Medal of Greece for its actions during the war.  His DD Form 214 shows that he was released from active duty at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico on 29 August 1952 in the rank of sergeant, and that he had            11 months and 25 days of foreign service.  That record also shows that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Korean Service Medal with two bronze service stars.  It does not show award of the Purple Heart.  

5.  His records show that he was hospitalized in November 1951 in Korea for epidemic hemorrhagic fever, and eventually transferred to the 382nd General Hospital in Japan for convalescence from 28 November 1951 through 31 January 1952.

6.  With his submission, the applicant submits a certificate showing that he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action in Korea on                  27 September 1951.    

7.  The applicant served in the Reserve components subsequent to his release from active duty in 1952 and was placed on the retired list on 20 September 1986.

8.  The Army Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  This period is three years except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the termination of a period of Federal military service.

9.  The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service for any period between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954.

10.  The United Nations Service Medal is awarded to members of the armed forces of the United States dispatched to Korea on behalf of the United Nations in the action in Korea.  Personnel awarded the Korean Service Medal automatically establish eligibility for the United Nations Service Medal.

11.  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 award to eligible US veterans of the Korean War, or their surviving next of kin.  The medal is provided at no cost to the veterans.

12.  The Department of Defense has 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 provide 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 applicant was awarded the Purple Heart for being wounded in action on 27 September 1951.  His DD Form 214 should be corrected to show that award. 

2.  The applicant served his country faithfully and honorably.  He is entitled to award of the Army Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

3.  The applicant is entitled to award of the United Nations Service Medal and the Bravery Gold Medal of Greece. 

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 showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, and the Bravery Gold Medal of Greece.

BOARD VOTE:  

___AAO _  ___JPI __  ___YM__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Arthur A. Omartian_____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002081296	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20030724	
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.