| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mrs. Nancy Amos | Analyst |
| Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr. | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Celia L. Adolphi | Member | |
| Mr. John T. Meixell | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: In effect, that his personnel and medical records be corrected to reflect injuries incurred in Cuba in January 1958 and during Operation Eagle Wing at Fort Campbell, KY in April 1958.
APPLICANT STATES: That in late January 1958, he was selected to participate in a classified mission in Cuba. The only debriefing information he recalls being given to his unit before leaving Fort Campbell, KY was that the mission was called “Zapata.” His unit of about 200 dropped over the Zapata swamps and, as soon as they began jumping, bullets were firing on them from below. He was hit
in the upper right arm and in his right lung. He lay hidden in the swamps for about two weeks. He doesn’t remember much until he woke up in the hospital at Fort Campbell, KY. He was told that he was one of 13 of that unit who survived. He was released to duty several weeks later. Shortly after the Cuba mission, his squad participated in a special jump called Operation Eagle Wing at Fort Campbell, KY. His squad buddy was badly hurt in the accident and appeared in a Life article. The applicant was injured also with a bruised hip, back, and shoulder. He spent a couple of days in the hospital. He provides the 5 May 1958 Life issue, a listing of a number of declassified Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) documents, and several other documents (as listed on the DD Form 149) as supporting evidence.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records were partially burnt in the National Personnel Records Center fire in 1973. Information contained herein was obtained from reconstructed records.
The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 18 February 1957. He completed basic combat training and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupational specialty 121.17 (Combat Engineer). He completed basic airborne training. He was assigned to Company B, 326th Engineer Battalion, Fort Campbell, KY on 12 July 1957. His Individual Jump Record, DA Form 1307, shows he made his first jump on 10 September 1957 and his last jump on 28 March 1958. His early separation (this appears to have been an involuntary action) due to low test scores was approved and Special Orders 84, Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell dated 8 April 1958 discharged the applicant effective 11 April 1958. His DD Form 214 shows he was discharged on 11 April 1958.
The applicant provides an article from the 5 May 1958 issue of Life describing an accident during a mass jumping exercise at Fort Campbell, KY the previous week when five soldiers died. The applicant provides a 13 October 2001 letter from fellow platoon member who confirms that he and the applicant were in the first platoon. On 23 April 1958, the first platoon jumped with the 502d Battle Group of the 101st Airborne. He (the fellow platoon member) was among 137 injured. He does not state that the applicant jumped with the platoon.
The applicant provides documents taken from the Internet which discuss American military aid to the pre-Castro Cuban Government and the Cuban Communists taking hostage of American citizens, including U. S. Marines, in 1958. He provides an email from a former sailor who stated that in April 1959 the sailor’s ship took 2,500 combat Marines to Cuba. He provides a 21 March 1958 Fort Campbell, KY newspaper article concerning the alerting of the 502d Battle Group to transport to Venezuela in support of Vice-President Nixon’s troubled visit to Caracas.
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 Board appreciates the applicant’s service to his country during troubled times; however, there is no evidence of record and the applicant provides none to show he was involved in either the Cuba operation or the mass jump accident at Fort Campbell, KY.
2. The provided CIA and Internet documents do not confirm that the applicant was involved in the Cuba operation. The evidence of record shows the applicant was separated on 11 April 1958. The provided newspaper article and the letter from his fellow platoon member indicate the jump accident occurred on or about 23 April 1958.
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
__rvo___ __cla___ __jtm___ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2002066546 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020228 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | (DENY) |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 100.00 |
| 2. | 124.00 |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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