| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Jessie B. Strickland | Analyst |
| Ms. June Hajjar | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Karol A. Kennedy | Member | |
| Mr. Roger W. Able | Member |
2. The applicant requests, in effect, that he be awarded two Purple Hearts.
3. The applicant states, in effect, that he was injured in Vietnam in April and October 1968, and was never awarded Purple Hearts for those injuries. He goes on to state that he was involved in a vehicle wreck, that he was hospitalized in Japan and Texas and that the field medic never followed through with the paperwork.
4. The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in Dallas, Texas on 22 November 1965 for a period of 4 years. He successfully completed his training and was transferred to Germany for duty as a light weapons infantryman. He was promoted to the pay grade of E-5 on 11 September 1967.
5. On 26 February 1968, he was transferred to Vietnam for duty as an armor intelligence specialist. He was assigned to K Troop, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) on 1 July 1968.
6. On 28 October 1968 he suffered a broken right leg with a possible spinal injury. On 1 November 1968, he was evacuated to a hospital in Japan. The facts and circumstances surrounding his injury are not present in the available records; however, on 15 November 1968, he was transferred to Brooke General Hospital (BGH) in San Antonio, Texas. He remained at BGH until he was transferred to Fort Hood, Texas on 22 January 1969, for duty as an assistant squad leader.
7. He remained at Fort Hood until he was honorably released from active duty on 21 November 1969. He had served 4 years of total active service and was awarded the CIB, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars and the National Defense Service Medal.
8. He was transferred to the United States Army Reserve (USAR) Control Group (Standby) and remained there until he enlisted in the Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG), where he remained until he was honorably released on 26 June 1994 and was transferred to the USAR Control Group (Retired).
9. A review of the Vietnam Casualty Listing compiled by the Office of the Surgeon General of the Army fails to reveal that the applicant was ever reported as a combat related casualty.
10. A review of the applicant’s records shows that he always had excellent conduct and efficiency ratings and there is no record of any derogatory information contained in his Official Military Personnel File.
11. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 provides a by-unit listing of Unit Citation and Campaign participation. It shows that the applicant’s unit was subsequently awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/Palm) Unit Citation and the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) during his tenure with that unit.
12. Army Regulation 600-8-22 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 a result of hostile action, that the wound must have required treatment by a medical officer, and that the medical treatment was made a matter of official record.
13. That Regulation also outlines the criteria for award of the Good Conduct Medal (GCMDL). It states, in pertinent part, that the GCMDL is awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal military service. It is awarded on a selective basis to each soldier who distinguishes him or herself from among their fellow soldiers by their exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity throughout their service. There is no right or entitlement to the medal until the immediate commander has approved the award and the award has been announced in permanent orders. Separation transfer points will review records of enlisted personnel being separated to determine whether they qualify for award of the GCMDL.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. While the evidence of record shows that he was injured in Vietnam and was transferred to two separate hospitals for treatment, the evidence does not provide sufficient evidence to determine if the injury was sustained as a result of hostile action. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, the Board must presume that the applicant was not considered a combat casualty and is therefore not entitled to be awarded the Purple Heart.
2. However, the evidence does shows that subsequent to the applicant’s departure from Vietnam, his unit was awarded the RVNGC w/Palm Unit Citation and the PUC. Accordingly, it would be in the interest of justice to award him those awards at this time.
3. The Board also notes that at the time he was eligible for award of the GCMDL, he was in a patient status at BGH. Given his record of exemplary service, the Board finds that it would be in the interest of justice to award him the GCMDL for the period of 22 November 1965 to 21 November 1968.
4. In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the individual concerned the GCMDL for the period of 22 November 1965 to 21 November 1968, the RVNGC w/Palm Unit Citation and the PUC.
2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
___ra ___ __jh ____ __kak___ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
______June Hajjar_______
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2001060831 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 2002/02/05 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT PARTIAL |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. 61 | 107.0015/PH |
| 2. 77 | 107.0031/PUC |
| 3. 102 | 107.0056/GCMDL |
| 4. 140 | 107.0094/RVNGC |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002073599C070403
He was initially assigned to the A Battery, 6 th Battalion, 29 th Artillery , 4 th Infantry Division as a cannoneer. Although the applicable regulation provides that the CIB is only awarded to personnel who possess an infantry military occupational specialty who are assigned to an infantry unit that engages in ground combat against an enemy; there were exceptions made through a published supplement which clearly indicates that radio operators who served as advisors in infantry or infantry...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 20040010648C070208
The applicant’s medical records were not available for review by the Board. Inasmuch as the wound must be documented as being the result of enemy action and the documents do not substantiate either that fact or the date of occurrence, the applicant has failed to show through the evidence presented with his application or the evidence of record, that he meets the prerequisites of the applicable regulations for award of the Purple Heart at this time. As a result, the Board recommends that...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001065933C070421
Where possible, a reasonable effort will be made to contact the unit commander prior to awarding the medal to qualified members. Accordingly, his records should be corrected to reflect his service in Vietnam and his overseas service from 4 March 1968, until he was evacuated to WBGH on 29 September 1968. Accordingly, the Board finds that it would be in the interest of justice to award him the GCMDL for his service during the period of 21 September 1967 through 20 June 1969.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002071820C070403
Although there are no orders in the available records to document his awards of the Purple Heart and CIB, there is sufficient evidence available to show that he was wounded in action against the enemy while serving as an infantryman in an infantry unit in Vietnam on 6 October 1965 and that he was treated for those wounds. Therefore, the Board finds that it would be in the interest of justice to correct that error at this time by showing that he was awarded the Purple Heart and CIB. b. by...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002076776C070215
He had served 2 years of total active service and was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) with four bronze service stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal. The applicant has failed to show through the evidence submitted with his application or the evidence of record that he was wounded/injured in action against the enemy and that the treatment he received was made a matter of record. Accordingly, the Board has...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002077114C070215
The Soldier’s Medal is awarded to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly foreign nation who, while serving in any capacity with the Army of the United states, distinguished himself or herself by heroism not involving actual conflict with the enemy. The evidence of record fails to show that the applicant was wounded/injured as a result of enemy action. Additionally, there is no evidence that the applicant was recommended for an award of the Soldier’s Medal...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002071964C070403
The Board considered the following evidence: He had served 2 years of total active service and his report of separation (DD Form 214) shows that he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence in the available records to show that the applicant was wounded or injured in Vietnam during an action by enemy forces or that he was treated...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002082331C070215
He had served 2 years of total active service and his DD Form 214 indicates that he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. The regulation outlines the criteria for award of the Good Conduct Medal (GCMDL) and provides, in pertinent part, that the GCMDL is awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal military service. RECOMMENDATION : That all of...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050003459C070206
The regulation also states, in pertinent part, that for first award only, upon termination of service on or after 27 June 1950, a period of service of less than 3 years but more than 1 year qualifies for award of the GCMDL. The applicant has failed to show through evidence submitted with his application or the evidence of record, sufficient evidence to establish his entitlement to the Purple Heart. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003084961C070212
The applicant states, in effect, that he was wounded in Vietnam and was not awarded the Purple Heart. The evidence of record clearly shows that the applicant was wounded in Vietnam on 19 February 1969, while serving in the pay grade of E-4, and that he was hospitalized as a result of that wound. RECOMMENDATION : That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the individual concerned the Purple Heart for wounds received on 19 February 1969,...