ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 9 April 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20180011329 APPLICANT REQUESTS: Reconsideration of his earlier request for award of the Purple Heart. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * Self-Authored Statement * Six photographs * Special Orders (SO) Number 192 (Enlistment Orders) * SO Number 22 (Reassignment Orders) * General Orders (GO) Number 2082 (Air Medal), with Certificate and Citation * GO Number 2770 (Army Commendation Medal), with Certificate and Citation * SO Number 103 (Reassignment Orders) * GO Number 4573 (Bronze Star Medal), with Certificate and Citation * GO Number 24 (Army Good Conduct Medal) * SO Number 197 (Reassignment Orders) * SO Number 144 (Discharge Orders) * Two Certificates of Appreciation * DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) * D Troop, First Squadron, First Cavalry Unit History * Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) Record of Proceedings for Docket Number AR20160007024, dated 6 March 2018 FACTS: 1. Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the ABCMR in Docket Number AR20160007024 on 6 March 2018. 2. The applicant states he did not know the Army’s records were so incomplete and incorrect until 2014/2015 when he was asked for copies of them, which he did not have. He tried to get copies and received a letter that they were loaned out to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). He was also told they may have been destroyed in a fire or lost on departure from Vietnam. a. He responds to the ABCMR Record of Proceedings, dated 9 March 2018: * there is missing information and incorrect information between paragraphs 2 through 4 * he completed basic training at Fort Knox, KY and advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO (in communications) * SO Number 22, dated 22 January 1968 reassigned him; his unit was known as 1/1 Cavalry, and he lived inside the confines of Robert Gray Army Airfield beside the SILOS * he went to Vietnam with his unit on 22 July 1968 and was stationed at Camp Eagle and he departed on 21 July 1969 * he was told they could not find his records and would create temporary records for him to go home b. Paragraph 3 (of the Record of Proceedings) is completely incorrect and is an injustice to him and really upsets him. In the pictures provided, he is standing by a sign that read “You are now entering Delta Troop 1/1 Cavalry Snake Pit Caution Beware Hovering Aircraft.” This is where cobra gun ships were kept and is proof what company he was in while in Vietnam. c. His wounds were dressed in the field and he took care of them himself with the help of one of the guys back at camp. If he knew then what he knows now, he would have made it a point to have gone to be checked out. He would have already had the Purple Heart or Purple Hearts. d. It sounds like his records were never recovered; the Record of Proceedings mentions “available records.” He was wounded, not a casualty. He did not leave his company and was still capable of carrying on with his duties, therefore he was not listed as a casualty. e. With his records being lost, how would they even know what to enter? They did not have computers back then. So naturally there would be areas that were blank. There were no medical officers in the battlefield, just enlisted members to dress his wounds. He did not see a medical officer all the time he was at Camp Eagle. 3. The applicant provides: a. Six photographs: * of a man (presumably the applicant) holding a rifle * of a man (presumably the applicant) laying on a bunk * of a man (presumably the applicant) on a military vehicle * of a man (presumably the applicant) next to a sign that reads “You are now entering Delta Troop 1/1 Cavalry Snake Pit. Caution. Beware Hovering Aircraft” * of a helicopter * of individuals standing next to a helicopter b. SO Number 192, dated 29 September 1967, which enlisted the applicant under the buddy assignment plan under Army Career Group Program 36 (Wire Maintenance). c. SO Number 22, dated 22 January 1968, which show the applicant was reassigned to 1st Cavalry AD Delta Troop, Fort Hood, TX. d. GO Number 2082, dated 9 March 1969, with certificate, and citation awarding the applicant the Air Medal. e. GO Number 2770, dated 27 March 1967, with certificate and citation awarding the applicant the Army Commendation Medal. f. SO Number 103, dated 13 April 1969, which show the applicant was reassigned to Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron (Airmobile), 17th Cavalry. g. GO Number 4573, dated 12 May 1969, with certificate and citation awarding the applicant the Bronze Star Medal. h. GO Number 24, dated 6 July 1970, which awarded the applicant the Army Good Conduct Medal. i. SO Number 197, dated 16 July 1969, which show the applicant was reassigned to 101st Screaming Eagle Replacement Training School on 15 July 1969. j. SO Number 144, dated 16 July 1970, which show the applicant was released from active duty and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve. k. Certificate of Appreciation for service between 29 September 1967 through 17 July 1970 and signed by President Richard Nixon, Commander in Chief. l. Certificate of Appreciation for active service signed by the Chief of Staff on 17 July 1970. m. Delta Troop, First Squadron, First Cavalry, First Regiment of Dragoons 1968-1969 Unit History. This article summarizes the squadron’s history, particularly in Vietnam. n. ABCMR Record of Proceedings, dated 6 March 2018 which denied the applicant’s request for award of the Purple Heart. 4. A review of the applicant’s service records shows the following: a. He enlisted in the Regular Army on 29 September 1967. b. He served in Vietnam from 22 July 1968 through 21 July 1969. c. He was honorably released from active duty on 17 July 1970. His DD Form 214 shows he completed 2 years, 9 months, and 19 days of active service. It also shows he was awarded or authorized: * National Defense Service Medal * Vietnam Service Medal * Vietnam Campaign Medal with “1960” Device * Air Medal * Army Commendation Medal * Bronze Star Medal * 2 overseas service bars * Expert Badge Rifle (M-16) * Sharpshooter Badge Rifle (M-14) 5. A review of the Awards and Decorations Computer-Assisted Retrieval System (ADCARS) an index of general orders issued during the Vietnam era between 1965 and 1973 maintained by the Military Awards Branch of the United States Army Human Resources Command failed to reveal an award of the Purple Heart for the applicant. 6. His name is not shown on the Vietnam casualty listing. This is a listing of Vietnam era casualties commonly used to verify entitlement to award of the Purple Heart. His records do not contain an official Army message or a Western Union telegram notifying his next of kin of an injury or wound sustained in action. This was the proper notification procedure for injuries at the time. 7. By regulation, the criteria for an award of the Purple Heart requires the submission of substantiating evidence to verify the injury/wound was the result of hostile action, the injury/wound must have required treatment by personnel, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record. BOARD DISCUSSION: Per the regulatory guidance on awarding the Purple Heart, the applicant must provide or have in his service records substantiating evidence to verify that he was injured, 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. After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found insufficient medical evidence to meet the regulatory standard for the Purple Heart and thus recommended denying the request. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : 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 the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis to amend decision of the ABCMR set forth in Docket Number AR20160007024, dated 6 March 2018. 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. REFERENCE: Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions for awards and decorations. It 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. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20180011329 6 1