ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS BOARD DATE: 17 May 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20190004447 APPLICANT REQUESTS: the Purple Heart. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Self-Authored Statements * DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) * Honorable Discharge Certificate * Certification of Military Service * Army Review Boards Agency Letter * U.S. Army Human Resources Command Letters * National Personnel Records Center Letter FACTS: 1. The applicant states * He was hit in the back of the head with shrapnel while assigned to Korea in 1952 * He got knocked down and he passed out when he got hit by the shrapnel * He received first aid by a medic who told him that he would tell the Commanding Officer to recommend him for the Purple Heart, but he never heard any more about it * He has a scar on the back of his head from the shrapnel * He never mentioned it or pursued it after he was discharged * His family told him that he should pursue award of Purple Heart * He feels that he should be entitled to the medal because he bled for it and proudly served his country * He does not know if the gun sergeant or one of their gun crew members remember him getting hit 2. The applicant's military records are not available to the Board 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 for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. 3. The applicant's DD Form 214 shows he entered active duty on 29 January 1951. He completed 10 months and 21 days of foreign service in Korea. 4. On 28 January 1954, he was honorably discharged. His DD Form 214 does not show the Purple Heart. 5. Item 29 (Wounds Received as a Result of Action with Enemy Forces) of his DD Form 214 shows the entry "None." 6. On 18 September 2018, the Army Review Boards Agency notified the applicant that his application had been referred to the Awards and Decorations Branch, U.S. Army Human Resources Command. 7. In a 19 October 2018 letter, the Awards and Decorations Branch stated: a. Based on review of the forwarded documentation and additional resources available, this office was unable to verify the applicant's entitlement to the Purple Heart. b. This office reviewed award orders for his period of service in Korea, but did not locate orders awarding him the Purple Heart and his name was not listed among the known casualties of the Korean War. c. If the applicant was receiving benefits from the Veterans Administration for service-connected disabilities, his claims file may contain copies of his official Korean War era service medical records. The applicant was advised that if he possessed such documentation, he should submit a records request to the National Personnel Records Center. d. If the applicant's medical documents were not available, he was recommended to conduct a review of unit morning reports for the period in question and to request morning reports from the National Personnel Records Center. If documentation could be located to support an award of the Purple Heart, they would provide the applicant and this office with the necessary information so that a final determination could be made. e. The designated next of kin of Soldiers wounded or injured during their Korean War service were normally notified of the incident by the Far East Command and this official notification would be very helpful in their determination. If the applicant could locate a copy of the notification, it would be helpful in their determination. 8. On an unknown date, he submitted another request to the Army Human Resources Command. On 31 January 2019, the Awards and Decorations Branch acknowledged receipt of his request. 9. On 12 February 2019, the Awards and Decorations Branch responded to his second request for award of the Purple Heart. The official notified him that their office was still unable to verify his entitlement to the Purple Heart. Also, the official informed him that military medical documentation from immediately after or close to the incident reflecting a diagnosis of and treatment for a qualifying wound must be provided and they must review original source material. He was advised to resubmit a request to the ABCMR. 10. On 20 February 2019, the National Personnel Records Center informed him that the record needed to answer his inquiry was not in their files and that his records may had been burned in the fire that occurred on 2 July 1973. 11. By regulation, in order to award the Purple Heart it is necessary to establish that a Soldier was wounded in action, that the wound required treatment by medical personnel, and the treatment record must have been made a matter of official record. 12. There are no medical records available which indicate the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action and his name is not listed on the Korean War Casualty Roster. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting evidence, the Board determined that there was insufficient evidence to grant relief. Regrettably, the Board found no documentation within the official record showing the applicant was wounded in combat by enemy contact or as a result of hostile action, or was treated by military medical personnel. The records available do not indicate any wounds that the applicant had at the time of discharge. Therefore there is no indication that the applicant met the regulatory requirements for award of the Purple Heart. 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 for correction of the records of the individual concerned. 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: Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained 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, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20190004447 2 1