PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            07 NOVEMBER 2002                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002077081

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mr. Kenneth H. Aucock		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas B. Redfern III		Member	
	Mr. Donald P. Hupman, Jr.		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests that his records be corrected to show award of the Purple Heart. 

3.  The applicant made no statement but provided a copy of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) and a copy of an official statement from the Office of The Adjutant General furnished on 22 November 1978, which attests to the applicant being wounded in action on 20 August 1968, entitling him to award of the Purple Heart. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that the applicant was inducted into the Army on 4 October 1967, completed basic combat training at Fort Bliss, Texas, where he was awarded the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with rifle bar.  He trained at Fort Ord, California, and Fort Knox, Kentucky, and in July 1968 was assigned to the 1st Engineer Battalion, a 1st Infantry Division unit in Vietnam, as a tracked vehicle mechanic.  

5.  A patient evacuation tag shows that he was wounded in action on 20 August 1968, receiving a fragmentation wound to the left side of his neck, perforating his eardrums.  He was transferred to the 24th Evacuation Hospital, and thence to the 249th General Hospital in Japan.  Sometime in November of 1968 he returned to Vietnam, completing his tour in May 1969.  He participated in three campaigns during his tour in Vietnam.  The 1st Engineer Battalion was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation for its actions while the applicant was assigned to that organization.  He returned to the United States and was released from active duty on 20 June 1969 at Fort Bliss, Texas.  His DD Form 214 shows that he was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.  It does not show award of the Purple Heart.    

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was wounded in action on 20 August 1968.  He is entitled to award of the Purple Heart, and his records should reflect that award. 

2.  The applicant is also entitled to award of the  Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with rifle bar, the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars (one for each campaign), the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation.

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 by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart, the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with rifle bar, the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation

BOARD VOTE:  

__RVO__  __TBR __  __DPH __  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Raymond V. O'Connor Jr.
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002077081	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20021107	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.