PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           22 April 2003      
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002081051

	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	
	Ms. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Chairperson	
	Mr. Curtis L. Greenway		Member	
	Ms. Mae M. Bullock		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, in effect, award of the Purple Heart. 

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he is entitled to award of the Purple Heart because his service medical records show he suffered a tympanic [middle ear] membrane rupture due to enemy fire in Vietnam.  He contends that he was injured in 1968 from an enemy rocket which hit his bunker causing chronic tympanic membrane rupture.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) and a Rating Decision, dated 15 July 2002, from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).   

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted on 2 August 1968. He served as a pioneer in Vietnam from 5 January 1969 through 4 November 1969.  On 6 November 1969, the applicant was separated with a general discharge under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-212 for unsuitability due to character and behavior disorders.

5.  The applicant's DD Form 214, which was authenticated in his own hand, does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award.

6.  There is no evidence in the applicant's service personnel records that shows he was awarded the Purple Heart or was wounded as a result of hostile action in Vietnam.

7.  The applicant's DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) does not reflect entitlement to the Purple Heart and item 40 (Wounds) on his DA Form 20 is blank.

8.  The applicant's name does not appear on the Vietnam Casualty Roster.

9.  The available records do not contain any service medical records.

10.  The applicant provided a DVA Rating Decision, dated 15 July 2002.  This decision states, in pertinent part, "Service medical records dated 1968 to 1969 show that the veteran had a perforated tympanic membrane in service that occurred when he was in near proximity to his bunker as it blew up from enemy fire."  This decision also shows that service connection (10 percent) was granted for tinnitus [a noise in the ears] of the left ear by the DVA. 

11.  The applicant's DD Form 214 shows the Vietnam Service Medal as an authorized award.  His records show that he participated in four campaigns during his assignment in Vietnam.

12.  The Board notes that the applicant is eligible for the Vietnam Campaign Medal and one Overseas Service Bar for his service in Vietnam.  These awards are not shown on his DD Form 214.
13.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists the unit awards received by units serving in Vietnam.  This document shows the unit, to which the applicant was assigned, was cited for award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation for actions during the period 1 September 1968 to 30 September 1969 by Department of the Army General Orders Number 50, dated 1971.  This award is not shown on his DD Form 214.

14.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) shows the applicant is entitled to award of the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation based on Department of the Army General Orders Number 59, dated 1969.  This award is not shown on his DD Form 214.

15.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) also shows the applicant is entitled to award of the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation based on Department of the Army General Orders Number 42, dated 1974.  This award is not shown on his DD Form 214.

16.  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, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.

17.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, authorizes award of a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation and states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate service medal.

18.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the Vietnam Campaign Medal.  This medal was awarded by the Government of Vietnam to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States for qualifying service in Vietnam during the period 1 March 1961 through 28 March 1973.  Qualifying service included assignment in Vietnam for 6 months or more and contributed direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam and Armed Forces.  Individuals who had qualified for award of the Vietnam Service Medal or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and were evacuated prior to completing six months of service due to wounds resulting from hostile action were entitled to award of the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

19.  Army Regulation 670-1, in effect at the time, governs the requirements for the Overseas Service Bar.  In pertinent part, it provides that a bar is authorized for wear for each period of active Federal service as a member of the U.S. Army outside of the continental limits of the United States for the specific time frames and areas of operation cited in Army Regulation 670-1 or appropriate Department of the Army message.  There are special provisions regarding authorization for the Overseas Service Bar for service in a hostile fire zone and for combining service to calculate award of the bars.  For Vietnam service, one overseas service bar is authorized for each period of 6 months active Federal service as a member of a U.S. Service in Vietnam from 1 July 1958 to 28 March 1973.  Both the month of arrival and the month of departure from Vietnam are counted as whole months for credit toward the overseas service bar.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board considered the applicant's contention that he was injured in 1968 from an enemy rocket which hit his bunker causing chronic tympanic membrane rupture.

2.  There is no evidence in the applicant's service personnel records which shows that he was wounded or injured as a result of hostile action in Vietnam.

3.  The Board reviewed the DVA Rating Decision which states, "Service medical records dated 1968 to 1969 show that the veteran had a perforated tympanic membrane in service that occurred when he was in near proximity to his bunker as it blew up from enemy fire."  However, in the absence of orders or other evidence of record showing the applicant was wounded or treated for wounds as a result of hostile action, the Board determined that the DVA Rating Decision is not sufficient as a basis for award of the Purple Heart.  

4.  Based on the foregoing, the Board determined that there is insufficient evidence on which to base award of the Purple Heart in this case.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows the Vietnam Service Medal as an authorized award.  However, evidence of record shows the applicant participated in four campaigns during his assignment in Vietnam which are not correctly shown by award of four bronze service stars for wear on his Vietnam Service Medal.  Therefore, in accordance with the governing regulation, the applicant is entitled to the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars and correction of his DD Form 214 to show these awards.   

6.  The applicant is entitled to award of the Vietnam Campaign Medal and one Overseas Service Bar for his service in Vietnam.  Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show these awards.

7.  The applicant's unit received the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation while he was assigned to it.  Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show these unit awards.

8.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, one Overseas Service Bar, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

MHM___  CLG____  MMB_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Melvin H. Meyer__________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002081051	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20030422	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.	107.0000	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.