APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That he be awarded the Purple Heart.  (He does not specify where or when he sustained the wound that would entitle him to the Purple Heart.)

APPLICANT STATES:  That the Purple Heart is not shown on his DD Form 214, Report of Separation.  He contends that he was wounded in the ankle and asks that a DD Form 215, Correction of DD Form 214, be issued showing that he received the Purple Heart.

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

He retired from the Army on 30 April 1975 in pay grade E-8 after completing over 20 years of active service.

The applicant’s Official Military Personnel File does not contain any information indicating that he suffered a wound or injury during his service that would qualify him for award of the Purple Heart.

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.

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.  Based on the available records, there is no evidence that he suffered a combat related injury that would qualify him for award of the Purple Heart.

2.  In order to justify correction of a military record, the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy this requirement.

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




						Karl F. Schneider
						Acting Director