| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. William Blakely | Analyst |
| Ms. Celia L. Adolphi | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Arthur A. Omartian | Member | |
| Mr. Harry B. Oberg | Member |
2. The applicant requests, in effect, that his military records be corrected to show award of the Purple Heart (PH).
3. The applicant states, in effect, that he was awarded the PH and it was omitted from his Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge
(DD Form 214). In support of his application, he submits a copy of his DD Form 214.
4. The applicant’s military records show that on 13 June 1967, he was inducted into the Army for a period of 2 years. He successfully completed basic training, advanced individual training, and the basic airborne course. Upon the completion of his training he was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 11B (Infantryman), the additional skill identifier of P (Parachutist), and he was assigned to the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) for his first permanent duty station.
5. The applicant’s Enlisted Qualification Record (DA Form 20) confirms that he arrived in the RVN in December 1967 and that he was further assigned to
D Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 502nd Infantry Regiment as a rifleman. It also confirms, in block 41 (awards and decorations), that during his active duty tenure he received the following awards and decorations: National Defense Service Medal; Parachutist Badge; Combat Infantryman Badge; Vietnam Service Medal; and RVN Campaign Medal (RVNCM).
6. Item 40 (wounds) of the DA Form 20 contains an entry that verifies the applicant was wounded in action when he received multiple fragment wounds to the face and both legs on 2 March 1968. In addition, a Department of the Army (DA) message, dated 11 March 1968, and a Western Union Telegram, dated
12 March 1968, that are on file in his Military Personnel Records Jacket (MPRJ) confirm that he was slightly wounded in the RVN on 2 March 1968 as a result of hostile action. They also verified that he received metal fragment wounds to his face and both legs while on a combat operation.
7. On 14 March 1969, the applicant was honorably released from active duty in the rank and pay grade of specialist/E-4 (SPC/E-4) after completing a total of
1 year, 9 months, and 2 days of active military service. The DD Form 214 issued to him upon his separation does not include the PH as an authorized award.
8. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual military awards. Paragraph 2-8 contains the regulatory guidance pertaining to awarding the PH and it states, in pertinent part, that the PH is awarded to any member wounded in action if the wound required treatment by a medical officer and this treatment must have been made a matter of official record.
9. Chapter 4 prescribes the policy for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM). It states, in pertinent part, that it is the immediate commander’s decision to award the AGCM based on his personal knowledge of the individual and on the individual’s official records. It further states that the lack of official disqualifying comment by previous commanders allows that period of service to qualify for use in awarding the AGCM. It also establishes that for the first award only, a period of more than 1 year of service is a qualifying period for award of the AGCM upon termination of that period of service.
10. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) also provides, in pertinent part, for awarding the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device to members who completed qualifying service in the RVN. It further indicates that Individuals who had qualified for award of the Vietnam Service Medal and were evacuated prior to completing six months of service due to wounds resulting from hostile action were entitled to award of the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The Board notes the applicant’s contention that he is entitled to the PH and it finds this claim has merit. The evidence of record confirms that he received fragment wounds to the face and both legs while on a combat operation in the RVN on 2 March 1968. Therefore, the Board concludes it would be appropriate to correct his record to show he was awarded the PH.
2. In addition, there is no evidence that shows the applicant committed any infractions that would have disqualified him from receiving the AGCM or that he was ever disqualified for the award by any of his immediate commanders prior to his separation. Therefore, given he completed the necessary qualifying period of service for the first award of the AGCM, the Board finds he was entitled to receive the AGCM upon his separation from active duty on 14 March 1969 and it would be appropriate to add this award to his record at this time.
3. The evidence of record shows the applicant is entitled to have his DD Form 214 corrected to show award of the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device.
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 by awarding the individual concerned the PH based on his being wounded in action on 2 March 1968 while serving as a private first class in the RVN; awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal for his honorable service from
13 June 1967 to 14 March 1969; awarding him the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device; and by providing him a corrected separation document that reflects these changes.
BOARD VOTE:
__CLA__ __AAO__ __HBO __ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
___Celia L. Adolphi __
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2001059490 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 2001/10/30 |
| 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 | CY2001 | 2001059553C070421
He further states that all his certificates were not listed in his DD Form 214 at the time of his discharge. In support of his application, the applicant provided a copy of his PH award certificate that shows he was wounded in action while serving as a specialist four in the RVN on 25 March 1967. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing in the individual concerned received the PH by including this award in his separation document; by...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050004942C070206
It states, in pertinent part, that the PH is awarded to any member who has been wounded or killed in action. The evidence of record also confirms the applicant held a qualifying infantry MOS, served in a qualifying infantry unit in the RVN, and participated in combat with his unit, as evidence by his being wounded in action on 26 April 1968. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding him the Purple...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080013043
Therefore, it would be appropriate to award him the AGCM for his qualifying period of honorable active duty service from 2 November 1966 through 26 September 1968. The evidence also confirms that based on his RVN service and campaign participation, he is eligible for the RVN Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation and 4 bronze service stars with his VSM. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending his DD...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090008138
The applicant requests, in effect, Purple Heart (PH) award orders and to have this award added to his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge). Item 40 (Wounds) of the applicant's DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) contains the entry which shows that the applicant sustained fragment wounds to both of his legs and buttocks on 12 June 1967. Paragraph 2-13 of the awards regulation contains guidance on award of the VSM and states, in pertinent...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140006924
The applicant states he was wounded in action (WIA) on 20 May 1969 in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN); however, the Purple Heart (PH) is not listed on his DD Form 214. The evidence of record shows: a. GOs awarded the applicant the AM and the AGCM (1st Award); b. the applicant qualified for award of the VSM and he participated in one campaign during his service in Vietnam. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a....
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120007378
Item 38 (Record of Assignments) of his DA Form 20 shows he received "excellent" conduct and efficiency ratings throughout his military service with no evidence of derogatory information in his military record. Army Regulation 672-5-1 (Awards), in effect at the time, stated the Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM) was awarded for each 3 years of continuous enlisted active Federal military service completed on or after 27 August 1940; for the first award only, 1 year served entirely during the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003089062C070403
Further, confirmation that the applicant was wounded in action and treated for this wound is provided by an entry on the official DA Vietnam Casualty Roster. Therefore, the Board finds the regulatory burden of proof necessary to support the award of the PH has been satisfied in this case, and it would be appropriate to award the applicant the PH and to add this award to his record at this time. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case for the individual concerned...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090004826
Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of the DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) he was issued at the time shows he earned the following awards: NDSM, RVN Campaign Medal, VSM, CIB, and BSM with "V" Device. As a result, it would be appropriate to award the applicant the first award of the AGCM for his qualifying period of honorable active duty service from 5 October 1966 through...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003086796C070212
I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual. The Board considered the following evidence: That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the individual concerned the Purple Heart; by showing he is entitled to the entitled to two bronze service stars for his Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003088872C070403
I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual. The applicant’s Military Personnel Records Jacket (MPRJ) has no orders or other documents on file that show he was ever wounded or injured in action, or that he was recommended for or awarded the PH. Further, lacking any derogatory information on file or a specific disqualifying action from any of his active...