APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That his DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect that he was awarded the Purple Heart and had completed 2000 hours of flight time.  He also requests that the Air Medal with “V” device and cluster be added to the DD Form 214; however, this was accomplished administratively by the US Army Reserve Personnel Center (ARPERCEN).

APPLICANT STATES:  That the aforementioned awards were not annotated on his DD Form 214 at the time of his discharge.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

He enlisted in the Regular Army for 3 years on 7 March 1966 and was honorably discharged in pay grade E-6 on 23 July 1970.  He was commissioned on 24 July 1970 upon completion of officer candidate school and eventually attended helicopter flight training and spent the remainder of his active service as an Army aviator.  He resigned in lieu of elimination and was granted an honorable discharge effective 20 September 1974 after completing 8 years, 6 month and 15 days of total service.

His DD Form 214 reflects that he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Army Aviator Badge.  Additionally, the ARPERCEN has determined that he is also authorized the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal with “V” device, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, and the Expert Badge with automatic rifle and pistol bars.

A review of available records failed to show that the applicant received any wounds or injuries as the result of hostile action during his service.  The record does reflect, however, that he is credited with having completed 1550 flying hours.

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

Army Regulation 635-5, the regulation governing preparation of the DD Form 214, makes no provision for recording flying hours on the DD Form 214.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  The available records disclose no evidence that the applicant suffered any wounds or injuries during his service that would qualify him for award of the Purple Heart.

2.  His record reflects that he completed 1550 flight hours (not 2000 hours as he contends) during his active service.  However, recording flight hours is not an appropriate entry on the DD Form 214. 

3.  In view of the foregoing, there appears to be no basis for granting the applicant’s request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

                       GRANT          

                       GRANT FORMAL HEARING

                       DENY APPLICATION




		David R. Kinneer
		Executive Secretary