ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 26 July 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20190003627 APPLICANT REQUESTS: reconsideration of his previous request for the award of the Purple Heart (PH). APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * letter, in lieu of DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record), dated 4 April 2019 * excerpts, Korean War Casualty List, dated 29 April 2019 FACTS: 1. Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20160008457 on 3 July 2018. 2. The applicant has provided new documentary evidence and new arguments that were not previously considered by the Board which warrant consideration at this time. 3. The applicant's complete military records are not available for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members' records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. It is believed that the applicant's records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, there were sufficient documents remaining in a reconstructed record to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. 4. The applicant states: a. He recently received documents from the Korean War Casualty Roster showing SFC X X. X and CPL X X. X , 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, were killed in action in North Korea on 14 July 1953 and 15 July 1953 respectively. b. He would like to replace the documents he previously sent with the documents he is now sending for reconsideration. c. The information he provided conjures a painful memory from the deaths of his two friends. 5. On 30 January 1952, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army. 6. The available records show he was attached to Company C, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, Army Post Office 51, Korea, which was his last significant duty assignment. 7. On 1 February 1953, he was honorably released from active duty service. His DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Armed Forces of the United States) shows in: a. item 26 (Foreign and/or Sea Service) – 1 year, 8 months, and 25 days, b. item 27 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized): * Parachutist Badge * Combat Infantryman Badge * Korean Service Medal with two bronze service stars * National Defense Service Medal * United Nations Service Medal 8. His name is not shown on the Korean War Casualty Roster, a by-name listing of Soldiers who were casualties during the Korean War. 9. On 3 July 2018, in ABCMR Docket Number AR20160008457, the ABCMR denied his request for award of the PH. The Board determined there was no official record of medical treatment by medical personnel nor was there other documentary evidence, generated at or near the time of the event that confirmed his wound met the criteria for the PH. The Board stated the evidence of record appeared to affirm his combat service, and the applicant supplied a photo showing a scar he asserted resulted from shrapnel during combat. There was no other documentary evidence, generated at or near the time of the event that confirmed his wound met the award criteria. 10. He provided extracts from the Korean War Casualty Roster, showing the names of several Soldiers attached to his unit, who were casualties during the Korean War. BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. The Board carefully considered the applicant’s request, supporting documents and evidence in the records. The Board considered the applicant’s statement, the extract he provided from the Korean War Casualty roster and noted that his military records were not available due to the 1973 fire at the Records Center. The Board found the applicant provided no additional in-service or post-service records supporting his request for a Purple Heart. Based on the preponderance of evidence, the Board determined that there was no error or injustice requiring correction of his records. 2. After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that relief was not warranted. 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 the decision of the ABCMR set forth in Docket Number AR20160008457 on 3 July 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. ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE(S): not applicable. REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. It provides that the PH is awarded for a wound sustained in action against an enemy or as a result of hostile action. Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify 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.