| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Deborah L. Brantley | Senior Analyst |
| Mr. John N. Slone | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Barbara J. Ellis | Member | |
| Mr. John E. Denning | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: That his records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart.
APPLICANT STATES: In effect, that he was wounded in Vietnam, but did not receive a Purple Heart. In support of his request, he submits a statement, authored in 2001, from his former platoon leader who states that the applicant "sustained a bullet wound to the soft tissues of his left neck" in December 1968 when his [the applicant's] helicopter came under "tremendous enemy automatic weapons fire." The author states that he "was present at the action and actually saw [the applicant's] neck wound that night in the mess hall." The author of the witness statement also submits a 1970 letter of recommendation, which talks about him [the former platoon leader and author of the statement] displaying unquestionable bravery and reliability while retrieving three men from a patrol. That letter states that "the previous helicopter to land in that single ship landing zone had been hit, with both pilot and copilot being wounded." The former platoon leader indicates that "the pilot" talked about in the letter of recommendation was the applicant.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records show:
He initially entered active duty as an enlisted soldier in December 1966 and was discharged on 14 December 1967 to accept an appointment as a warrant officer.
In January 1968 he was assigned to Vietnam as a helicopter pilot and remained in Vietnam until January 1969. He was awarded an Air Medal. On 20 November 1969 the applicant was discharged, apparently to accept an appointment as a commissioned officer, and remained on active duty until December 1974. He returned to Vietnam for a second tour of duty between January 1971 and January 1972.
The applicant continued his association with the military via the National Guard and Army Reserve, in both an active and inactive status, until 1987 when he was discharged and "all Reserve of the Army and Army of the United States appointments" were terminated.
There is no indication in available records that he was ever wounded as a result of hostile action, or awarded the Purple Heart. The only medical records available to the Board were a 1981 and 1982 physical examination; neither of which indicated the applicant had ever been treated for wounds sustained as a result of hostile action, or mentioned any scars consistent with "a bullet wound to the soft tissues of his left neck."
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, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:
1. There is no evidence, and the applicant has not provided any, which confirms he was wounded as a result of hostile action while in Vietnam. The statement submitted in support of the applicant's request was rendered more than 20 years after the fact, and the 1970 letter of recommendation is not specific enough to confirm that the wounded pilot mentioned in the letter was in fact the applicant.
2. Statements rendered years after the fact, which are not supported by information from any official source, and are inconsistent with information contained in official documents, are not sufficient for the Board to conclude an award of the Purple Heart would be appropriate.
3. In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust. The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy that requirement.
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
__JNS __ __BJE _ __JED __ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2001065666 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020214 |
| 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 | 2002078569C070215
The staff of the Board is authorized to determine whether or not such evidence has been submitted. However, these medical records do not show that the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action in Vietnam. However, in the absence of orders or other evidence of record showing the applicant was wounded or treated for wounds as a result of hostile action in Vietnam, the Board determined that this statement is not sufficient as a basis for award of the Purple Heart.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002078530C070215
The applicant provided a personal account of his wounding, dated 5 June 2002. In this addendum, the former platoon leader attests that he was the applicant's platoon leader at the time of his wounding, that he was physically present at the time of the applicant's wounding by enemy ground fire, and that he personally saw the wound as the applicant received field medical treatment. However, in the absence of orders or other evidence of record showing the applicant was wounded or treated for...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100025136
A review of the applicant's military personnel records failed to reveal any evidence he was authorized or awarded the Purple Heart. Both the applicant and his former platoon sergeant state metal from a bullet ricocheted into the applicant's left jaw. In view of all of the foregoing, there is insufficient evidence to support the applicant's claim to the Purple Heart.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060003538C070205
There are no medical records available which show the applicant was wounded or treated for wounds as a result of hostile action during his service in Vietnam. There is no reason to doubt the statements provided by the applicant’s former platoon leader, rifleman, and medic; however, without medical evidence verifying the applicant's wounding, there is an insufficient basis for award of the Purple Heart in this case. As a result, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070008747
The applicant states that he was wounded twice in the Republic of Vietnam. There is no evidence in his service personnel records that show he was wounded or injured as a result of hostile action or treated for such wounds. Evidence of records show the applicant was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140021384
The applicant requests correction of his military records to show he was awarded the Purple Heart for a wound received while serving in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN). He told the medic about his right knee. The applicant states that at the time he was not sure how he sustained the injury to his right knee, but thought he might have hit his knee on a rock.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090008640
He adds that when his recommendation for the Soldier's Medal was downgraded to an ARCOM with "V" Device, awarding him the DFC had been discussed. The local awards board recommended approval but one awards board member recommended that the award be downgraded to an Air Medal with "V" Device. The Awards Board concluded that there was insufficient evidence to award the applicant the Purple Heart and recommended that he contact the National Personnel Records Center to obtain his unit's morning...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120021543
At the time, the company commander handed him a Purple Heart medal, but told him the paperwork would have to catch up with him because it would have to come through the medical facilities at Cu Chi. There is no evidence in his service personnel record showing he was wounded during his period of service in Vietnam. c. Notwithstanding the applicant's contention and his sincerity, in the absence of additional documentation that conclusively shows he was wounded or injured as a result of enemy...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140019733
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). The applicant's service record showed he served in Vietnam from June 1962 to May 1963 and piloted in several combat missions where he made safe landings despite the helicopters sustaining heavy gunfire. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as a result of hostile action.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120021601
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Purple Heart. However, he contends he was awarded the Purple Heart and provides a USARV Casualty Report that clearly shows he sustained an injury on 6 December 1970 that was caused by the enemy and that also shows he was treated at the 93rd Evacuation Hospital in Vietnam. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of...