| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Kenneth H. Aucock | Analyst |
| Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Richard T. Dunbar | Member | |
| Mr. Kenneth W. Lapin | Member |
2. The applicant requests that his DD Form 214 be corrected to show award of the Purple Heart.
3. The applicant states that the Purple Heart was not included on his DD Form 214 when he was released from service after being wounded in Korea. A Member of Congress (MC) assisted him in receiving the Purple Heart in 1990. He was wounded in the left arm on 20 July 1950 near Taegu, Korea.
4. The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973. Information herein was obtained from the applicant and from reconstructed personnel records.
5. The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows that he entered on active duty on 21 January 1948, that he had 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days of foreign service, and that he was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan clasp, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal with one bronze service star, and the United Nations Service Medal. That form does not show that he was wounded in action, nor does it indicate award of the Purple Heart. The applicant was discharged in the rank of Corporal on 10 April 1952. He had 3 years, 10 months, and 16 days of service, and 123 days of lost time.
6. Information from the hospital admission cards created by the Office of The Surgeon General shows that the applicant was assigned to the 34th Infantry Regiment, and that he was admitted to the hospital on 23 July 1950 with a diagnosis of a compound fracture, comminuted, with no nerve or artery involvement. He was wounded in action, receiving a bullet wound to his humerus, and was evacuated to the United States. A Korean Casualty File (origin unknown) shows that the applicant was wounded on 20 July 1950.
7. On 22 February 1990, an Army official informed a MC that the applicant’s entitlement to the Purple Heart had been verified, and that the Army Support Activity had been authorized to forward the Purple Heart to the applicant. A copy of the Purple Heart certificate that the applicant submits with his application shows that he was wounded in action on 20 July 1950.
8. The Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register shows that the 34th Infantry Regiment was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (now the Presidential Unit Citation) for its actions during the period 2 July to 15 September 1950; and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for its actions during the period 2 to 22 July 1950.
9. As a matter of information, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Korean War, the Government of the Republic of Korea issued the Korean War Service Medal to pay tribute to eligible Korean War veterans for their historic endeavors to preserve the freedom of the Republic of Korea and the free world. On 20 August 1999, the Department of Defense approved acceptance and wear of this foreign award to eligible US veterans of the Korean War, or their surviving next of kin. The medal is provided at no cost to the veterans.
10. The Department of Defense has assigned responsibility to the Department of the Air Force for distribution of the Korean War Service Medal to eligible veterans or their surviving next of kin. To apply, veterans must provide a copy of their DD Form 214 to the Awards and Decorations Section, Headquarters, Air Force Personnel Center, 550 C Street West, Suite 12, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas 78150-4714. A sample request form is being provided to the applicant. Once the Korean War Service Medal has been authorized by the Department of the Air Force, the applicant may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records to add this foreign award to his DD Form 214.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicant was wounded in action on 20 July 1950 and was awarded the Purple Heart. He is also entitled to award of the Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. Those awards should be reflected on his DD Form 214.
2. 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 showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.
BOARD VOTE:
__RVO__ __RTD __ __KWL__ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
__Raymond V. O’Connor___
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2002068730 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020725 |
| 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. | 61 |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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