2. The applicant requests correction of his military records to reflect that he was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in Korea.
3. He states that he was wounded in the eye while serving in the Korean War and was never awarded the Purple Heart.
4. His military records show that he enlisted for 2 years on 23 October 1951 and after training as a cannoneer was reassigned to Korea where he served for 10 months and 17 days. He was honorably relieved from active duty on 15 September 1953 and transferred to the reserve component to complete his military service obligation.
5. His medical record shows that on 25 February 1953 he was wounded in action in North Korea when he was struck in the left eye by a metal object while dynamiting foxholes in the frozen ground. He was eventually evacuated to the States for treatment of his wound.
6. 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.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The evidence of record shows that the applicant was wounded in action as a result of shrapnel to his left eye while engaged with the enemy in Korea.
2. In view of the foregoing, his 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 the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained on 25 February 1953 as a result of enemy action in Korea.
BOARD VOTE:
GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
GRANT FORMAL HEARING
DENY APPLICATION
CHAIRPERSON
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The applicant's WD MD Form 52 (Medical Report), dated 4 December 1953, shows the applicant suffered aphakia to his right eye following extra-capsular lens extract performed on 10 November 1953 at the U.S. Army Hospital, for relief of traumatic cataract to his right eye that occurred in 1951 while he was in POW status when the wire clothes line he was fixing pierced the globe of his right eye. As he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge on 31 October 1950, was wounded on 6 September 1950,...
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Counsel states: * The applicant was in Korea and assigned to Company B, 6th Engineer CMB Battalion * He was wounded on or about 1 October 1952 in the mouth and face by an artillery shell explosion * He was treated in-country and he was told he would get a Purple Heart * On or about 31 October 1952, he received a wound caused by a hand grenade which blinded him in his left eye * These are two separate incidents * After treatment, he was sent back to the United States and discharged * In 2004,...
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The applicant provides service medical records; service personnel records; and records pertaining to his Physical Evaluation Board. 8009th Army Unit General Orders Number 75, dated 16 February 1951, show the applicant received the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 12 February 1951 in Korea. The applicant served a period of qualifying service for award of the National Defense Service Medal and the ROK-KWSM.
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The applicant requests that he be awarded the Purple Heart and that his report of separation (DD Form 214) be corrected to reflect his time as a Prisoner of War (POW). Medical documents prepared at the time of his repatriation on 15 August 1953 clearly indicate that the applicant was wounded on the date of his capture by enemy forces in Korea on 27 April 1951. After carefully examining the applicant’s record of service, the Board has determined that the applicant should have received the...
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There is no evidence in the available records that shows the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action in Korea. The web site notes state that the additions were based on either a General Order awarding the Purple Heart, the Certificate for the Purple Heart, or a DD-214 showing the Purple Heart had been awarded and that the additions to the web site listings are distinctively marked in blue and in no way modify the original Korean War Casualty File.As a matter of information, on...
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The applicant provides: * command or historical report extract * casualty reports, dated 12 February 1953 and 14 February 1953 * Eighth U.S. Army-Korea Periodic Intelligence Report, dated 14 February 1953 * Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device Certificate * DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) for the period ending 14 November 1953 * DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214) for the period ending 14 November 1953, dated 2 April 2010 * DD Form 215 for the...
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The applicant requests that his military records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart and POW (Prisoner of War) Medal. While the evidence clearly confirms the applicant was a POW and as such is entitled to the POW Medal there is insufficient evidence to confirm the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action during the Korean War. The applicant admits that there is no medical evidence to substantiate his shrapnel wound and the statements submitted in support of his...
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