2.  The applicant requests correction of his military records by including the Purple Heart and the Army Commendation Medal on his DD Form 214, Report of Transfer or Discharge.

3.  He states, in effect, that he was wounded in Vietnam and evacuated to Madigan General Hospital at Fort Lewis, Washington for treatment.  From there, he was discharged from the service and the Purple Heart was never presented to him or reflected in his records.  Likewise, the Army Commendation Medal was awarded after he had been discharged and does not appear on his DD Form 214.

4.  In support of his request he provides a copy of a citation from the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) awarding him the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious achievement in Vietnam.

5.  His military records show that he was inducted on 17 March 1967.  After training as an infantry indirect fire crewman, he was assigned to Germany for 8 months, then on 25 March 1968 he was reassigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) in Vietnam.

6.  On 11 December 1968 he was wounded in the left hand and left thigh and eventually evacuated to Madigan General Hospital at Fort Lewis, Washington for treatment.  There, on 11 February 1969 he was honorably discharged after 1 year, 10 months and 25 days of active service.

7.  His DD Form 214 shows the following awards: the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

8.  His Enlisted Qualification Record reflects, under the entry for wounds, that he received a gunshot wound to the left hand and left thigh on 11 December 1968.  An extract from his unit’s morning report for that same time period also shows that he was wounded on 11 December 1968 and evacuated for treatment.  There are, however, no medical records that reflect the aforementioned wounds.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, 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.

10.  The same regulation provides that the Army Commendation Medal is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States, while serving in any capacity with the Army, who distinguishes himself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.  The award may be made to any individual recommended for the award.

11.  Army Regulation 600-200, Enlisted Personnel Management System, provides instructions for the preparation and maintenance of the enlisted qualification record.  It states that “Wounds” recorded on the form will include a brief description of the wound or injury requiring medical treatment, received through hostile or enemy action, including those requiring hospitalization.  The date the individual was wounded or injured will also be entered.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  While there are no medical records to substantiate his wounds, his enlisted qualification record and morning report entries made at the time indicate that his wounds were the result of enemy action and that he was evacuated to an Army hospital for treatment.  Administrative regularity is presumed in the preparation and accuracy of these records and, therefore, warrants award of the Purple Heart.

2.  Similarly, there is no documentation in the record that he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.  However, the Board accepts on face value that the Army Commendation Medal citation from the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) is legitimate and rightfully awarded the Army Commendation Medal to the applicant.

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

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:

	a.  by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart as a result of wounds received in Vietnam; and

	b.  by showing that he was also awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service in Vietnam.

BOARD VOTE:  

                       GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

                       GRANT FORMAL HEARING

                       DENY APPLICATION




		                           
		        CHAIRPERSON