PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:     

	BOARD DATE:           1 July 2003                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002082489

	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. Edmund P. Mercanti		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Ted S. Kanamine		Chairperson	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Member	
	Ms. Karen Y. Fletcher		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 separation document be corrected to add his Purple Heart (PH).

3.  The applicant states that he received the PH but it was not included on his separation document.

4.  In support of his request he submits his award certificate for the PH.

5.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 22 August 1967, was awarded the military occupational specialty of medical specialist, and was promoted to pay grade E-5.

6.  He was assigned to Vietnam on 19 March 1968.  

7.  On 13 June 1968, the applicant was wounded by enemy mortar fragments to his chest, both arms, and left leg.  He was awarded the PH for his wounds by General Orders Number 150 dated 14 June 1968, published by Headquarters, 2nd Surgical Hospital.  He was hospitalized, departed Vietnam on 8 August 1968 in a patient status for processing under the disability evaluation system, and on 25 September 1969, was placed on the retired list for physical unfitness due to these wounds.

8.  The separation document he was issued shows that he was awarded the Combat Medical Badge, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and marksmanship badges.

9.  Department of the Army General Order Number 8, dated 1974, awarded all personnel assigned to the United States Army Vietnam from 8 February 1962 through 28 March 1973 the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm.

10.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, shows the pertinent identified campaign periods, for which a bronze service star is authorized for wear on the Vietnam Service Medal.  Those periods are:  Tet commenced on 31 January 1968 and ended on 1 April 1968, Counteroffensive Phase IV ended on 30 June 1968 and Counteroffensive V started 1 July 1968.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s military records contained the orders for his PH.  While the addition of this award is administrative, the Board opts to include the PH in its recommendation to insure that it is promptly added to the applicant’s separation document.
2.  The applicant is also entitled to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm and three bronze service stars to his Vietnam Service Medal.

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 adding to the separation document of the individual concerned his PH, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, and three bronze service stars to his already awarded Vietnam Service Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

___kyf___  ____mhm  ____mhm  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__________Ted S. Kanamine________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003090390	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20030701	
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.		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.