2.  The applicant requests correction of his military records to reflect award of the Purple Heart.  He notes he was wounded on 29 November 1950 but the Purple Heart was never recorded in his records.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty on 28 September 1949.  According to original documents contained in his service personnel file he was injured “by enemy hand grenade fragments in the right arm and wrist in Haggeroo, North Korea” on 29 November 1950. At the time of his injury he was a member of Company B, 31st Infantry Regiment.  Within 12 hours after his injury he was captured my communist forces and remained in captivity until 14 August 1953 when he was repatriated.

4.  On 28 February 1954 he was medically retired from the Army.  His DD Form 214 (report of separation) does not reflect entitlement to the Purple Heart.

5.  Subsequent to his separation he was awarded the POW Medal.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Purple Heart is awarded for wounds 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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record confirms the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile fire on 29 November 1950 while in Korea.

2.  In view of the foregoing, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records as recommended below.




RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the individual concerned the Purple Heart for wounds sustained as a result of hostile action on 29 November 1950 while in Korea.

BOARD VOTE:  

                       GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

                       GRANT FORMAL HEARING

                       DENY APPLICATION




		                           
		        CHAIRPERSON