| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Edmund P. Mercanti | Analyst |
| Mr. Fred N. Eichorn | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Melvin H. Meyer | Member | |
| Ms. Barbara J. Ellis | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: That he be awarded the Purple Heart.
APPLICANT STATES: In effect, that no record of his wound was ever placed in his personnel records. Since no record of his wound ever made the transition to his personnel file, he was not awarded the Purple Heart.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records show:
He enlisted in the Regular Army on 25 July 1967, was awarded the military occupational specialty of general vehicle repairman, served in Vietnam as a supply clerk from 21 December 1967 to 20 December 1968, was promoted to pay grade E-5, and was honorably discharged on 29 October 1969 for the purpose of immediate reenlistment.
While stationed in the United States, the applicant’s duty status was changed to Absent Without Leave (AWOL) on 5 September 1972. His duty status was changed from AWOL to Dropped from the Rolls (DFR) of the Army on 5 October 1972. His duty status was changed from DFR to present for duty on 12 October 1972.
On 12 December 1972 the applicant was issued a General Discharge Certificate as a result of his discharge in lieu of court-martial, for the good of the service. His awards and decorations included the Good Conduct Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 device, and weapons qualifications badges.
The applicant’s DA Form 20, Enlisted Qualification Record, Item 40, Wounds, does not contain any entries. Item 38 of this form, Record of Assignments, does not show that the applicant’s duty status ever changed to patient or convalescent status.
The applicant’s military records do not contain any record of him being wounded or injured while he was on active duty.
Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for wounds 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.
DISCUSSION: Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record and applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:
1. The applicant’s records contain no evidence and he has submitted no evidence to support his contention that he was wounded in action and is entitled to the Purple Heart. In the absence of substantiating evidence, there are no grounds for the Board to approve his request.
2. In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.
DETERMINATION: The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
_fne_____ ___mhm_ ___bje __ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2001055874 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20011018 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | YYYYMMDD |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | DENY |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.00 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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