| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mrs. Nancy Amos | Analyst |
| Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr. | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Raymond J. Wagner | Member | |
| Mr. Donald P. Hupman, Jr. | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: That he be awarded the Purple Heart.
APPLICANT STATES: That he was hit by a grenade. He provides one page from a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Rating Decision as supporting evidence.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire in 1973. Information contained herein was obtained from alternate sources.
The applicant entered active duty on 20 December 1950. He was separated on 25 September 1952.
The VA document provided by the applicant indicates his Report of Separation, DD Form 214, showed he served in Korea during the Korean War and received a Combat Infantryman Badge. The applicant stated that he was noise-exposed when a grenade/round exploded near his foxhole in 1951. VA outpatient treatment reports from 31 July 1998 through 4 September 2001 showed him with a history of a grenade blast in Korea and moderate to severe hearing loss. He also reported post-service noise exposure as an electrician.
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 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. The Board appreciates the applicant’s service to his country during a time of war but the supporting evidence provided by him does not substantiate his contention that he was “hit” by a grenade while in Korea. The provided evidence shows that he stated he was noise-exposed when a grenade/round exploded near his foxhole. There is no evidence to show he was treated for hearing damage at the time and the applicant does not contend that he was treated for hearing damage due to this explosion. Therefore, it appears the applicant does not meet the eligibility criteria (i.e., treatment by a medical officer and medical treatment made a matter of official record) for award of the Purple Heart.
2. Regrettably, 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___ __rjw___ __dph___ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2002067191 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020409 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | (DENY) |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0015 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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