| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. W. E. Schnupp | Analyst |
| Ms. Celia L. Adolphi | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Arthur A. Omartian | Member | |
| Mr. Harry B. Oberg | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: That his record be corrected to show that he was wounded in Vietnam, and in effect, that he be awarded the Purple Heart.
APPLICANT STATES: That the record does not show that he was wounded or that he received any medals for his wound. He says that he is now disabled but that he served his country proudly and believes that he deserves a medal.
In support of his request, he submits a statement from a fellow soldier who was with him at the time, who says that the applicant was wounded in the neck by shrapnel during grenade training in Vietnam.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records show:
He was inducted on 22 June 1966, was trained as a field artilleryman, and served as a cannoneer with the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam from December 1966 to December 1967. He was promoted to specialist, and was released from active duty to the US Army Reserve on 21 June 1968.
His awards include the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
The statement in support of his application says that the writer was with the applicant in Cu Chi, Vietnam, on or about 10 December 1966, during hand grenade training. They were told to throw the grenades and watch them go off in the jungle. A piece of shrapnel hit the applicant in the throat and he was sent to the hospital.
The applicant’s medical record does not show any evidence of medical treatment for a shrapnel wound. His separation physical examination, completed on 17 May 1968, contain no reference to his having suffered a shrapnel wound during his service.
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 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, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:
1. The applicant has provided no evidence and the record contains no evidence showing that he was wounded as a result of enemy action and is entitled to the Purple Heart.
2. The statement submitted in support of his request for the Purple Heart shows that his injury was incurred during hand grenade training and as such does not meet the criterion for award of the Purple Heart.
3. Accidental injuries, even though they may occur in a combat zone, that are not directly attributable to an act of the enemy, are not considered wounds received in action and do not entitle the individual to the Purple Heart.
4. 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
___cla___ ___hbo__ ____aao_ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2001057636 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20011030 |
| 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. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002072406C070403
The applicant requests that his military records be corrected to show he was awarded the Purple Heart. The applicant states, in effect, that he is entitled to the Purple Heart for a friendly fire injury he received in combat in Vietnam. While the Board has no reason to doubt the applicant’s statement that he was in fact wounded, documentary evidence is required to correct a military record.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002071357C070402
The applicant requests that his military records be corrected to show he was awarded the Purple Heart. While the Board has no reason to doubt the applicant’s statement that he was in fact wounded, documentary evidence is required to correct a military record. However these statements and the other submitted unofficial documents are not sufficient by themselves as a basis for award of the Purple Heart in view of evidence of record which shows the applicant was not wounded and was not...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090003882
The applicant states, in effect, that he should have been awarded the Purple Heart for wounds he received in Vietnam on 4 March and on 2 November 1968. The evidence does show the applicant complained of shrapnel in his chest; however, the medical records entry does not form a basis for award of the Purple Heart to him. The Standard Form 513 the applicant submitted to support his request for award of the Purple Heart for an injury he states he sustained on 2 November 1968 as a result of an...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 03090630C070212
Nonetheless, the documents that he submits – the two statements from former comrades, the letter to his mother letter dated shortly after the date that he stated that he was wounded; and the information in the 28 October 1998 Board case showing that Mr. "K" was wounded on that same date, are convincing. BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by award of the Purple Heart, the Air...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 040004929C070208
His DD Form 214 shows award of the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 device, and the Good Conduct Medal. Although there is no medical evidence to show that the applicant’s wounds were the result of hostile action, records do show that he was evacuated to Japan and thence to the United States because of his wounds, and medical records do show that he sustained shrapnel wounds to his back and legs. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002075744C070403
There is no evidence in the applicant's service personnel records that he was awarded the Purple Heart or was wounded as a result of hostile action. 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. There is no evidence in the applicant's service personnel records which shows that he was wounded or treated for wounds sustained as a result of hostile action in Vietnam.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070017920
The applicant's military personnel record shows he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 27 September 1966. The applicant's records show that he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal. Therefore, the Board requests that the CMSD-St. Louis administratively correct the records of the individual concerned to show the awards of the Army Good Conduct Medal first award for the period 27 September 1966 to 19 September 1968, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation,...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003084715C070212
The applicant departed Vietnam in February 1968 after being awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service. There were no medical records available to the Board, or provided by the applicant. The applicant completed a qualifying period of service for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal on 23 August 1968.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002073346C070403
There are no orders in the applicant’s service personnel records which show that he was awarded the Purple Heart. The letter from the National Personnel Records Center stated essentially that a search of official military records failed to produce any evidence that the applicant received any wounds as a result of hostile action and that, in the absence of such evidence, a Purple Heart cannot be authorized. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002079590C070215
The applicant's DD Form 214, which was authenticated in his own hand at the time of his separation from the Service, does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award. There are no orders in the applicant’s service personnel records which show that he was awarded the Purple Heart. Based on the applicant’s dates of service in Vietnam, Appendix B shows that he participated in three campaigns of the Vietnam War.