IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	 20 April 2010 

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20090017702


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 he was wounded in Vietnam by an enemy-emplaced punji stick.  He adds that his induction physical will not show a scar on his back, but his separation physical will show a scar.  The scar was caused by a punji stick.

3.  The applicant provides no additional documentation.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant was inducted on 26 March 1969 and served 1 year, 10 months, and 28 days before being honorably separated.  He had Vietnam service from 14 April 1970 to 22 February 1971.

2.  The following information pertinent to the applicant's request was gleaned from official records:

* there are no orders awarding him the Purple Heart
* his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) does not list the Purple Heart
* his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) does not list the Purple Heart or any wounds
* his name does not appear on the Vietnam casualty list
* his complete medical records are not available

3.  During the processing of this case, a member for the Board staff reviewed the Awards and Decorations Computer Assisted Retrieval System maintained by the Military Awards Branch of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, which is an index of general orders issued during the Vietnam era between 1965 and 1973.  This review failed to reveal any Purple Heart orders on file for the applicant.

4.  The applicant's pre-induction physical examination and his separation physical examination are available.  Neither document shows any scars and his separation document does not mention any wound.

5.  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:  (1) the wound was the result of hostile action, (2) the wound required medical treatment, and (3) the medical treatment was made a matter of official record.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant requests award of the Purple Heart.

2.  In order to receive the Purple Heart, there must be a wound resulting from hostile action, the wound must be treated, and the treatment must be recorded.

3.  There is no evidence to show the applicant was wounded or treated for a wound.

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)                                         AR20090017702



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20090017702



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