| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Deborah L. Brantley | Senior Analyst |
| Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr. | Chairperson | |
| Mr. John P. Infante | Member | |
| Ms. Eloise C. Prendergast | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: Award of the Purple Heart.
APPLICANT STATES: In August 1952 his unit came under attack by enemy forces. He states that a grenade exploded and "three pieces penetrated his left shoulder." He notes he was treated at the battalion aid station but the injury was never recorded in his file and he never received the Purple Heart. In support of his request he submits a statement authored by his daughter.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records show were apparently lost or destroyed during the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center. Information contained herein was reconstructed from alternative sources, including information provided by the applicant.
The applicant entered active duty on 5 March 1951 and served approximately 11 months overseas where he was awarded the Korean Service Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge. His separation document indicates that he was assigned to the 5th Infantry Regiment while in Korea.
The applicant was released from active duty on 22 December 1952. His separation document does not reflect entitlement to the Purple Heart and item 29 (wounds received n action with enemy forces) reflects "NONE." The applicant authenticated his separation document.
In June 2003 a member of the Board's staff reviewed the historical files of the 5th Infantry Regiment at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland. The review failed to produce any evidence that the applicant was entitled to an award of the Purple Heart.
Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for wounds 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. There were no medical records available to the Board.
Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides for award of the National Defense Service Medal to individuals serving on active duty between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954.
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 United States veterans of the Korean War, or their surviving next of kin. The medal is provided at no cost to the veterans. 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 discharge paper (Department of Defense 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 separation document.
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. Although the applicant maintains that he was wounded as a result of hostile action during the Korean War, unfortunately there is no medical evidence which supports that contention. In the absence of such evidence, there is no basis for the Board to conclude that the applicant is entitled to an award of the Purple Heart.
2. 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.
NOTE: Officials at the Army Review Boards Agency Support Division in St. Louis are requested to administratively correct the applicant’s separation document to reflect award of the National Defense Service Medal.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
___RVO_ __JPI __ __ECP __ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2002080563 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20030612 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | YYYYMMDD |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | DENY |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.00 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003090300C070212
No record that he was wounded in action was found; however, there is evidence that the FSM was hospitalized two times for treatment while he served in the Army. Once the Department of the Air Force has authorized the Korean War Service Medal, the applicant may apply to the Army Board For Correction of Military Records to have it added to the DD Form 214. The FSM's service medical records were requested from the Army on two occasions.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 20040004609C070208
The applicant requests correction of his records to show award of the Purple Heart. The applicant's military records were not available to the Board for review. Therefore, the date of the injury listed on the applicant's DD Form 214 is insufficient evidence upon which to base award of the Purple Heart in this case.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002076787C070215
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) to show that he was awarded the Purple Heart. 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. The evidence of record shows that the applicant was wounded in action on 10 April 1952 while serving in Korea.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003090046C070212
There is, however, no indication the applicant was ever awarded the Purple Heart and item 29 (wounds received as a result of action with enemy forces) on his 1952 Department of Defense Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) reflects "NA." 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. Once the Korean War Service...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002075855C070403
The applicant requests, in effect, that his records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart. Army Regulation 600-8-22 states that personnel awarded the Korean Service Medal are automatically entitled to the United Nations Service Medal. Once the Department of the Air Force has authorized the Korean War Service Medal, the applicant may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records to add this foreign award to his separation document.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003088671C070403
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. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 10 September 1950 in Korea. That the applicant's DD Form 214 be corrected:
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003087850C070212
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. Evidence of record and item 29 on the applicant’s DD Form 214 show he was wounded in action on 7 October 1952 in Korea. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002080250C070215
The applicant states, in effect, that he was only 17 years old when he enlisted and that he was wounded twice but did not receive the Purple Heart. The Board notes that the second injury occurred at 0100 hours on 12 July 1951. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by: a. showing that the individual concerned is awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 12 July 1951; and,b.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 2004100006C070208
The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. The applicant’s military records are not available to the Board for review. 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.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003091773C070212
The applicant's reconstructed records show the applicant was inducted on 8 June 1951. 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. Therefore, his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this medal.