IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  20 March 2012

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20110018690 


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 his records be corrected to show he was awarded the Purple Heart (PH)).

2.  The applicant states:

* he served with the Special Forces (SF) in Vietnam
* he was on a combat mission when he was blown up by an enemy rocket-propelled grenade (RPG)
* he was transported unconscious to the 3rd Field Hospital, Saigon
* medics discovered he suffered from hepatitis and amoebic dysentery and he spent 30 days in the hospital
* he was awarded the PH in the hospital by the Commanding General, 1st Cavalry Division

3.  The applicant provides no additional documentation.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army for 3 years on 14 November 1967. He received the following training:

* Basic Combat Training
* Basic Airborne Course
* SF Radio Operator Training

2.  The applicant's permanent duty assignments were:

* Company D, 7th SF Group, 1st SF, Fort Bragg, NC
* Company A, 5th SF Group, 1st SF, Vietnam

3.  Relative to being wounded in action, the record shows:

* there are no orders awarding the applicant the PH either in his file or in ADCARS, the Awards and Decorations Computer-Assisted Retrieval System, an index of general orders issued during the Vietnam era between 1965 and 1973 and maintained by the Military Awards Branch of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command
* his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) does not show the PH as an authorized award
* his DA Form 20 does not show any wounds
* his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) does not show the PH
* his limited medical records do not show he was wounded in action
* his name does not appear on the Vietnam Casualty Roster

4.  The applicant was honorably separated on 6 July 1970.  His Standard Form (SF) 88 (Report of Medical Examination) shows the applicant stated in his own handwriting "My condition since my last physical has changed due to infectious hepatitis and acute gastroenteritis."  He makes no mention of being wounded.

5.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained while in action against an enemy or 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 medical personnel, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's request that the PH be added to his records has been carefully considered.  Unfortunately, there is no evidence to support granting his request.

2.  There are no orders in his records and the applicant has not provided orders to show he was awarded the PH.  The limited medical records available for review do not support the applicant's request and his name does not appear on the Vietnam Casualty Roster.  His DA Form 20 does not show an entry in Item 40 (Wounds).
3.  The Board wants the applicant and all others concerned to know that this action in no way diminishes the sacrifices made by the applicant in service to our Nation.  The applicant and all Americans should be justifiably proud of his service in arms.

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)                                         AR20110018690



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20110018690



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