| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Richard P. Nelson | Analyst |
| Mr. Ted S. Kanamine. | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Karen Y. Fletcher . | Member | |
| Mr. Melvin H. Meyer | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: Award of the Purple Heart as a result of combat service in the Republic of Vietnam.
APPLICANT STATES: That he was wounded and treated for metal fragments from a grenade during an attack on the base camp at Bear Cat, Republic of Vietnam, on 6 January 1966. He states that he has a scar on his right hand, between the first and second fingers, and a scar on the “reverse” side of his right arm from his wrist to his elbow. In support of his request, the applicant has submitted a copy of an entry in his medical records, dated 6 January 1966.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records show:
The applicant enlisted in the United Sates Army on 26 July 1961. He initially trained as an infantryman, then transferred to the logistics field, where he spent the remainder of a 30 year career. He attained the rank of Master Sergeant prior to being appointed a Warrant Officer on 25 June 1976. The applicant served in various assignments around the world, with overseas tours in Vietnam, Korea, Germany, and Southwest Asia. He retired from the Army as a Chief Warrant Officer Four on 30 September 1991 after completing over 30 years and 2 months of active federal service.
Three of the applicant’s DD Forms 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge), all of which were completed after the date of the incident of 6 January 1966, and all authenticated in the applicant’s own hand, do not show award of the Purple Heart in item 24 (Decorations, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized).
There is no evidence in the applicant’s service personnel records which shows that he was wounded, or treated for wounds, as a result of hostile action. There are no orders in the applicant’s service personnel records which show that he was awarded the Purple Heart and the applicant did not provide a copy of orders or an award certificate in support of his claim for this award. The applicant’s name is not listed on the Vietnam Casualty Roster.
The applicant has submitted a copy of a medical treatment form. On the form, he has highlighted a single line which contains the following handwritten entry “6 Jan 66 Bn Aid 2/18 Inf APO 96345.” There are no other entries associated with that date. There is no evidence of wounds received or of medical treatment administered on that date, or on any other date. Nowhere on the form is there mention of a wound, or treatment of a wound.
Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) 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, 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 considered the applicant’s request for award of the Purple Heart and the document submitted in support of his request. There are no orders in the applicant’s records which award him the Purple Heart. There are no entries in his DD Forms 214 that show award of the Purple Heart and there is no evidence that the applicant was wounded, or treated for wounds as a result of hostile action during his service in Vietnam.
2. The Board notes the copy of an entry made on a medical treatment form at the battalion aid station on 6 January 1966. However, the Board also notes that the entry does not make mention of a wound, it does not refer to enemy action or hostile fire, and there is no record of medical treatment.
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 this 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
___TSK__ __MM___ __KF ___ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2002078600 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | YYYYMMDD |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | YYYYMMDD |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | DENY |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | 1124 |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0015.0000 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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