| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Jessie B. Strickland | Analyst |
| Mr. John N. Slone | Chairperson | ||
| Mr. Thomas Lanyi | Member | ||
| Mr. Bernard P. Ingold | Member |
2. The applicant requests that he be awarded the Purple Heart.
3. The applicant states that he was wounded in Vietnam and was treated for a flesh wound to the leg, which was inflicted by a bullet. He goes on to state that he was presented with a Purple Heart but it was never entered on his report of separation (DD Form 214).
4. The applicant’s military records show that he was initially inducted in Buffalo, New York, on 10 April 1970 and on 16 April 1970, while at Fort Dix, New Jersey, he enlisted in the Regular Army for a period of 3 years and training as a helicopter repairman. He completed his basic combat training at Fort Dix and was transferred to Fort Eustis, Virginia, to undergo his advanced individual training (AIT).
5. Upon completion of his AIT, he was transferred to Vietnam on 8 October 1970, where he was assigned to the 175th Aviation Company for duty as a helicopter repairman. He was advanced to the pay grade of E-4 on 2 September 1970. He remained in Vietnam until 7 October 1971, when he was transferred to Fort Carson, Colorado.
6. On 28 December 1971, the applicant submitted a request to be released from active duty under Department of the Army Phase Down Release Programs which provided a means by which members on active duty separating before their expiration of term of service (ETS) could request assignment to a United States Army Reserve (USAR) Troop Program Unit. His request was approved and he was honorably released from active duty on 10 January 1972 and was transferred to the USAR. He had served 1 year, 8 months and 24 days of total active service and had 7 days of lost time due to being absent without leave (AWOL). He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Aircraft Crewman Badge, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) and the Air Medal.
7. A review of the available records fails to show any indication that the applicant was wounded or injured. Additionally, no information was found in unit records located at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland and his name is not on the Vietnam Casualty Listing.
8. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound/injury 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.
9. Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register-Vietnam Era) was published to assist commanders and personnel officers in determining or establishing the eligibility of individual members for campaign participation credit, assault landing credit, and unit citation badges awarded during the Vietnam Conflict. Table 1 (Army Units in Numerical Order) of the pamphlet indicates that the applicant’s unit was subsequently awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm (RVNGC w/Palm) Unit Citation for the period the applicant was assigned.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicant has failed to show through the evidence submitted or the evidence of record that he was wounded in action in Vietnam and that the treatment of that wound was made a matter of record. Accordingly, lacking evidence to the contrary, the Board finds no basis to award him the Purple Heart.
2. However, the applicant's unit was subsequently awarded the RVNGC w/Palm Unit Citation and therefore he is entitled to be awarded it at this time.
3. 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 RVNGC w/Palm Unit Citation.
2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
___js____ __bpi ___ ___tl____ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
_____John N. Slone______
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2002078547 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 2003/04/29 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. 61 | 107.0015/PH |
| 2. 140 | 107.0094/RVNGC |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 20040010717C070208
However, he has failed to show through evidence submitted with his application or the evidence of record that he was wounded/injured as a result of enemy action and that treatment was rendered by medical personnel at the time and made a matter of official record. Evidence shows that the applicant’s records contain administrative error which does not require action by the Board. Therefore, the Board requests that the CMSD-St. Louis administratively correct the records of the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060005211C070205
However, the applicant has failed to show through the evidence submitted or the evidence of record that he was awarded two additional awards of the Purple Heart as he contends. As a result, the Board further determined that there is no evidence provided which shows that it would be in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file this application within the 3-year statute of limitations prescribed by law. Therefore, the Board requests that the CMSD-St. Louis...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090004762
The applicant requests that his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected to show his award of the Purple Heart. The applicant was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action against the enemy on 29 January 1969 and he is entitled to have that award entered on his records at this time. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding him the first...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001057002C070420
Table 1 (Army Units in Numerical Order) of the pamphlet indicates that the applicant’s unit was authorized awards of the Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (RVNGC) with palm during the period (18 months) in which the applicant was assigned to the 117 th Aviation Company. Although these awards were authorized subsequent to the applicant’s departure from Vietnam, the Board concluded, in the interest of equity, that the applicant’s record should be...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060000307C070205
John Heck | |Member | The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. The evidence of record clearly shows that the applicant sustained shrapnel wounds in Vietnam and that he was treated by medical personnel at the time; however, it appears that an administrative oversight resulted in his not being awarded the Purple Heart. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090007102
The applicant states that he was wounded in action in Vietnam on 15 September 1968. Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) issued at the time of his REFRAD shows that the applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star Medal (BSM), National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), the Republic of Vietnam...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050004633C070206
Scott W. Faught | |Member | The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. 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. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by awarding him the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003089769C070403
The applicant requests that his records be corrected to reflect his award of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) with "V" Device. On 19 October 1969, orders were published in Vietnam awarding the applicant the BSM for meritorious service during the period of September 1968 to September 1969. 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 BSM, the BSM w/...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060001205C070205
Peguine M. Taylor | |Member | The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. Although there are no orders in his records to show the award of the Purple Heart, there is evidence in the records that verifies that he was wounded on 31 May 1969. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by showing that he was awarded the Purple Heart and by awarding him the GCMDL...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050003984C070206
Allen L. Raub | |Member | The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. Although there are no orders present in the applicant’s records showing that he was awarded the Purple Heart, it is reasonable to presume, given all of the medical documentation surrounding the shrapnel wounds to his left hand, that he was in fact awarded the Purple Heart while in the 3rd Field Hospital and that the orders never caught up with his...