2.  The applicant requests correction of his records to reflect that he was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in Vietnam.

3.  He states that he suffered a concussion wound resulting in a perforated eardrum from an enemy booby trap.

4.  The record reflects that he served in Vietnam from 15 July 1966 to 1 July 1967 as a light weapons infantryman in the 196th Light Infantry Brigade.  His medical records show that on 10 January 1967 he suffered a perforated eardrum as the result of an explosion of an enemy booby trap.  He was treated for the injury and eventually returned to duty.

5.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as the 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 a medical officer, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was wounded as the result of hostile action and that wound was properly recorded in the record.

2.  Based on the evidence available, it appears that his injury meets the requirement for award of the Purple Heart.

3.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s record should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained on 10 January 1967 as the result of enemy action in Vietnam.

BOARD VOTE:  

                       GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

                       GRANT FORMAL HEARING

                       DENY APPLICATION




		                           
		        CHAIRPERSON