IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  17 February 2010

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20090015908 


THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE:

1.  Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any).

2.  Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any).


THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant requests award of the Purple Heart.

2.  The applicant states that the award of the Purple Heart is not listed on his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge).  He maintains that he was wounded in combat on 19 September 1967 in the vicinity of Cholon, Vietnam.

3.  The applicant provides a copy of his DD Form 214 and a DA Form 8-275-3 (Clinical Record Cover Sheet).

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice.  This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant's failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so.  While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file.  In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing.

2.  Records show the applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 10 May 1966.  He served in Vietnam from 6 March 1967 to 27 February 1968. 
He was honorably released from active duty on 29 February 1968.

3.  Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of the applicant's DD Form 214 does not list the Purple Heart as an authorized award.

4.  The applicant provided a DA Form 8-275-3 that shows he was admitted to the hospital on 19 September 1967 for extraction of his teeth.

5.  Item 40 (Wounds) of the applicant's DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows no entries for any wounds received.

6.  There is no documentation in the available records which shows the applicant sustained wounds or was treated for wounds incurred as a result of hostile action.

7.  There is no evidence or any general orders awarding the applicant the Purple Heart and his name is not listed on the Vietnam casualty roster.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) 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.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

There are no general orders available which awarded the applicant the Purple Heart.  There are no medical records available which show the applicant was wounded or treated for wounds as a result of hostile action during his service in Vietnam.  The DA Form 8-275-3 that the applicant provided shows that he was hospitalized for extraction of his teeth.  Therefore, in the absence of medical records supporting the applicant's contention, there is an insufficient basis for award of the Purple Heart in this case.


BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

____X___  ____X___  ___X____  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice.  Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.



      ____________X____________
                 CHAIRPERSON
      
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20090015908



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20090015908



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