| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Deborah L. Brantley | Analyst |
| Mr. John N. Slone | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Margaret V. Thompson | Member | |
| Mr. William D. Powers | Member |
2. The applicant requests that his military records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, Ranger Tab and Special Forces Tab. In support of his request he submits a copy of a 1986 DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards) which indicates he was authorized issuance of the Purple Heart and the Army Good Conduct Medal, a copy of orders awarding him the Special Forces Tab and evidence confirming his assignment to a Ranger unit.
3. Information available to the Board indicates the applicant served on active duty between 16 November 1949 and 26 November 1952. His DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) notes that he was separated with an honorable characterization of service in the temporary grade of sergeant, was the recipient of a Combat Infantryman Badge and Korean Service Medal, among others, and had no lost time during his period of active service. His separation document also confirms that he completed airborne and ranger training at the “Infantry School.” Item 29 (wounds received as a result of action with enemy forces) on his separation report indicates he sustained a shrapnel wound to his left hand on 18 May 1951 while in Korea.
4. In March 1951 orders were issued awarding the applicant a “prefix digit” of 3 to his MOS (military occupational specialty) code signifying “Special Combat Training” and withdrawing “prefix digit” 7 (parachutist).
5. In July 1951 the applicant was mentioned in a commendation letter addressed to the Commanding Officer, 1st Ranger Company, 2nd Infantry Division in Korea. The letter commended the applicant and four other individuals for their involvement in training Korean soldiers.
6. In 1986 the applicant apparently corresponded with officials at the U.S. Army Military Personnel Center (now known as the U.S. Total Army Personnel Command) concerning his entitlement to the Purple Heart and Army Good Conduct Medal. An official from that agency responded to the applicant on
23 April 1986 indicating that his request for issuance of awards was being forwarded to the Army Reserve Personnel Center (ARPERCEN) for action. On 26 June 1986 officials at ARPERCEN authorized the U.S. Army Support Activity in Philadelphia to issue the applicant a Purple Heart and the Army Good Conduct Medal. There is, however, no indication that orders were ever issued confirming either award.
7. In May 1988 the applicant was awarded the Special Forces Tab by officials at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School under a
provision of Army Regulation 672-5-1 (Military Awards and Decorations) which provided for the retroactive award of the Special Forces Tab to soldiers who served with Special Forces units during wartime and were either unable to, or not required to, attend a formal program of instruction, but were awarded a SQI (special qualification indicator formerly known as a prefix digit) of 3 by competent authority.
8. Army Regulation 600-8-22, which superceded the original military awards and decorations regulation 672-5-1, states that the Ranger Tab is awarded to U.S. military and civilian personnel who successfully complete a Ranger course conducted by the U.S. Army Infantry School. The cloth tab was approved by HQDA (Headquarters, Department of the Army) on 6 November 1950. Authorization to wear the tab was included in Change 2, AR 600-70, dated
23 January 1953.
9. Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service. This period is 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the termination of a period of Federal military service. Although there is no automatic entitlement to the Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified. Current practice requires that the commander provide written notice of nonfavorable consideration and permits the individual to respond.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. There is sufficient evidence that the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action during the Korean War and as such was authorized issuance of the Purple Heart medal in 1986. It would be appropriate to confirm the award and correct his records accordingly.
2. The applicant completed a qualifying period of service for award of the Good Conduct Medal on 15 November 1952. There is no evidence in available documents which would serve as a basis to disqualify the applicant from receiving the award. As such it would be appropriate, and in the interest of justice, to confirm the applicant’s entitlement to the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period 16 November 1949 through 15 November 1952 and correct his records accordingly.
3. The applicant successfully completed a Ranger course conducted by the U.S. Army Infantry School and as such is entitled to the Ranger Tab. The evidence also confirms he was retroactively awarded the Special Forces Tab.
4. 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 awarding the individual concerned the Purple Heart for wounds sustained as a result of hostile action during the Korean War;
b. by awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period
16 November 1949 through 15 November 1952;
c. by awarding him the Ranger Tab; and
d. by showing that he was awarded the Special Forces Tab.
BOARD VOTE:
__JNS __ __MVT __ __WDP _ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
____ John N. Slone_____
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2001051856 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20010724 |
| 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. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002072876C070403
The applicant requests that his records be corrected to show that he was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal, Glider Wings, and a Bronze Star Medal. He states that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal while in a hospital in Japan in May 1953 and that he should be awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal for "four years plus service while [he] earned the Purple Heart Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge." The evidence also confirms that the applicant is entitled to a Glider Badge, Ranger Tab,...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080017956
The applicant requests his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) reflect he was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received during the Korean War. There is no record of his honorable service (i.e., DD Form 214) from 1947 to 30 September 1951. The applicants records should contain two DD Forms 214, the first one for the period 11 December 1947 through 30 September 1951, and the second one for the period 1 October 1951 through 23 January 1954.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060010282
The applicant honorably served on active duty during a qualifying period of service for award of the National Defense Service Medal; therefore, he is entitled to award of the National Defense Service Medal, and correction of his military records to show this award. Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Republic of Korea - Korean War Service Medal, and correction of his military records to show this award. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130020518
The FSM's DD Form 214 shows: * he enlisted in the Regular Army on 30 September 1949 * on 11 October 1952, he was honorably discharged * he served 3 years and 12 days of creditable active service with no days lost * he served 9 months and 20 days overseas * he was assigned to the 5th Infantry Regiment * he received wounds as a result of action with enemy forces on 4 February 1951 * his awards are: * Korean Service Medal with 4 bronze service stars * Combat Infantryman Badge * he was...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002074396C070403
The applicant contends in his letter that a 9 December 1999 letter from the Army Board for Correction of Military Records refers to the requirements for award of the Purple Heart contained in Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards). The DVA rating decision states that the applicant’s service personnel records show that he served in Korea in the winter. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) currently governs award of the Purple Heart and states that the Purple Heart is awarded for a...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110016804
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) to show award of the Purple Heart and, in effect: * Republic of Korea (ROK) Presidential Unit Citation * United Nations Service Medal * Korean Service Medal with one silver service star * Army Good Conduct Medal * Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp 2. Award of the Korean Service Medal automatically establishes eligibility for award of the United Nations Service...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002078136C070215
The applicant requests that his records be corrected to show that he was wounded in Korea on/about 18 March 1951 and that he be awarded the Purple Heart (PH). Once the Korean War Service Medal has been authorized by the Department of the Air Force, the applicant may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records to add this foreign award to his DD Form 214. The evidence of record does not support that the applicant was wounded in combat during the Korean War.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130021224
The applicant's complete military records are not available to the Board for review. Army Regulation 672-5-1 (Military Awards), in effect at the time, provided that the Army Good Conduct Medal was awarded to individuals who completed a qualified period of active duty enlisted service. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: * awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) for exemplary behavior,...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050007877C070206
The applicant’s military records are not available to the Board for review. The applicant’s request that the completion of Ranger training and the Ranger Tab be added to his separation document, and the supporting evidence he submitted were carefully considered. The evidence confirms the applicant was assigned to the 8213th Army Unit, Eighth Army Ranger Company, 25th Infantry Division, while serving in Korea.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090005062
He also requests that his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) be corrected to show in item 4 (Component and Branch or Class) that he served in the Infantry; in item 27 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) that his unit was awarded three Presidential Unit Citations; in item 28 (Most Significant Duty Assignment) that his most significant unit was the 1st Airborne Ranger Company; in item 29...