| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. G. E. Vandenberg | Analyst |
| Ms. Joann H. Langston | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Margaret K. Patterson | Member | |
| Mr. Arthur A. Omartian | Member |
2. The applicant requests that his records be corrected to show award of the Purple Heart and the Korean Service War Medal.
3. Since it appears that the applicant has applied for but not yet received the final authorization for Korean War Service Medal, the Board will not address this issue. He is requested to reapply when he receives the final authorization documentation from the Air Force.
4. The applicant defers to counsel.
5. Counsel states that a review of the records in the custody of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) show that he received shrapnel wounds to his right foot for which he is receiving VA disability benefits. He also states that the applicant advises him that he has received the Korean War Service Medal but has not received a notification of a correction of his records.
6. The applicant's military records are not available and are presumed to have been lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.
7. His DD Form 214 (Report of Separation) shows he served on active duty from 19 February 1951 through 15 January 1953. His service in Korea was with Company I, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division as an infantryman.
8. The DD Form 214 lists his awards and decorations as the Korean Service Medal with one bronze service star, the United Nations Service Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
9. Block 29 (Wounds Received As A Result Of Action With Enemy Forces) shows that he received fragment wounds to his right foot on 20 October 1952.
10. A 14 January 1953 SF Form 88 (Report of Medical Examination) shows he received shrapnel wounds to his right foot in October 1952 and that he was hospitalized for 25 days at the 279th General Hospital in Japan.
11. A VA Rating Decision, dated 24 February 2003, shows he was granted an increase in his disability rating for the residuals of a shell fragment wound to his right foot with retained foreign body.
12. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained while in action against an enemy or 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.
13. Army Regulation 600-8-22, paragraph 2-10, shows that the National Defense Service Medal was first established on 22 April 1953 and amended to show entitlement for honorable active service for any period between 27 July 1950 through 27 July 1954, 1 January 1961 through 14 August 1974, 2 August 1990 through 30 November 1995, and 11 September 2001 through the present.
14. 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 heroic 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 service award to eligible US veterans of the Korean War, or their surviving next of kin. The medal is provided at no cost to veterans. The Department of Defense 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 submit a copy of their discharge paper (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. 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 his DD Form 214.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicant received a wound to his right foot as a result of enemy action on 20 October 1952; therefore, he is entitled to the Purple Heart.
2. The National Defense Service Medal was not established until after his release from active duty. However, award of this medal was made retroactive to 27 June 1950. Therefore, he is entitled to award of the National Defense Service Medal.
3. Based on the award of the above medals, it is appropriate to correct his records to show his awards and decorations as the Purple Heart, the Korean War Service Medal with one bronze service star, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
4. In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, correcting the applicant’s records as recommended below will correct errors in the records.
RECOMMENDATION:
That his records be corrected to show his awards and decorations as the Purple Heart, the Korean War Service Medal with one bronze service star, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
BOARD VOTE:
__JHL___ __MPK__ __AAO__ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
_ Joann H. Langston_
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2003088702 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT partial |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003088702C070403
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 his DD Form 214. Based on the award of the above medals, it is appropriate to correct his records to show his awards and decorations as the Purple Heart, the Korean War Service Medal with one bronze service star, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge....
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003086937C070212
The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service for any period between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954. 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 individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart,...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 20040010971C070208
The Department of Defense 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 Medal has been authorized by the Department of the Air Force, the applicant may apply to this Board to add this foreign award to his DD Form 214. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by showing that he...
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.
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 | 2002084314C070215
In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice. The applicant requests...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050004864C070206
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. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding him the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 17 September 1952 in...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003083816C070212
The applicant states that his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) reflects that he was wounded as a result of action with enemy forces on 2 June 1953 and that he was awarded the Purple Heart, but the award is not reflected in his military service records. 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...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002073061C070403
PROCEEDINGS BOARD DATE: 17 SEPTEMBER 2002 DOCKET NUMBER: AR2002073061 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 individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Republic of Korea...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003090825C070212
The applicant requests that his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) be corrected to show his award of 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. BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: