| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Edmund P. Mercanti | Analyst |
| Mr. Raymond J. Wagner | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Kathleen A. Newman | Member | |
| Mr. Ronald E. Blakely | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: That he be awarded the Purple Heart.
APPLICANT STATES: While serving in Vietnam, a bomb exploded while he was unloading explosives, resulting in a wound to his left hand. He was treated for the wound, but later discovered that there was shrapnel in the wound which was removed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). At the time he refused the Purple Heart, but now wants his separation papers corrected to reflect that he was awarded that decoration.
In support of his application he submits documents from the DVA dated August 1969 in which it is shown that the applicant had a brassy metallic object removed from his finger. The applicant had reported to the DVA that he had cut his finger while unloading ammunition from a truck. However, one of the five pages of medical records refers to the cut as a shrapnel wound.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records show:
He was inducted on active duty on 12 September 1967, was awarded the military occupational specialty of artilleryman, and was promoted to pay grade E-4. He served in Vietnam from 23 July 1968 to 22 July 1969 and was honorably released from active duty on 22 July 1969.
The applicant’s DA Form 20, Enlisted Qualification Record, Item 40, Wounds, has nothing entered. The applicant’s separation physical examination has no entries concerning any wound.
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. There is no evidence that the applicant was treated for a wound while in Vietnam. To the contrary, both the applicant’s separation physical and DA Form 20 indicate he was not wounded.
2. While the applicant had a metallic sliver imbedded in his finger there is no evidence which would show that it was a shrapnel wound, other than the one page of DVA medical records prepared after the applicant was released from active duty. Since the applicant reported that he got the sliver while unloading ammunition, assuming it could be shown that the sliver was, in fact, incurred in Vietnam, he would have to show that the sliver was from shrapnel and not from handling munitions.
3. 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
__kan ___ ___reb __ ____rjw_ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2001059172 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 200101025 |
| 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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