| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Wanda L. Waller | Analyst |
| Mr. Fred N. Eichorn | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Margaret V. Thompson | Member | |
| Mr. Eric N. Andersen | Member |
2. The applicant requests, in effect, correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) to show award of the Purple Heart.
3. The applicant did not provide an explanation with his application.
4. The applicant’s military records have been lost or destroyed. This case is being considered using reconstructed records. The applicant's reconstructed records consist primarily of the DD Form 214 and limited medical records.
5. The applicant's reconstructed records show the applicant enlisted on 18 July 1950. He served as a cannoneer in Korea and was honorably discharged on
18 July 1953.
6. The applicant's DD Form 214 does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award. However, item 29 (Wound Received as a Result of Action with Enemy Forces) on the applicant's DD Form 214 shows he sustained a gunshot wound to his right thigh on 24 February 1951.
7. The Korean War Casualty Roster shows the applicant was wounded in action on 12 February 1951.
8. The Office of the Surgeon General Hospital List also shows the applicant was diagnosed with frostbite (toes) on 23 February 1951 in Korea. As a result of this injury, one toe was amputated.
9. The applicant's DD Form 214 shows award of the Korean Service Medal with one bronze service star.
10. Army Regulation 600-8-22 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.
11. While award of the Purple Heart for frostbite injuries is currently prohibited, such injuries were previously a basis for the award. Until 23 August 1951, Army Regulation 600-45, which governed the award of Army decorations, stated that for the purpose of considering an award of the Purple Heart, a “wound” is defined as an injury to any part of the body from an outside force, element, or agent sustained while in action in the face of the armed enemy or as a result of a hostile act of such enemy. An “element” pertains to weather and the award of this decoration to personnel who were severely frostbitten while actually engaged in combat is authorized.
12. Army Regulation 600-8-22 states that the bronze oak leaf cluster is awarded to denote the second and succeeding awards of certain decorations, among which is the Purple Heart.
13. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides for award of the United Nations Service Medal. In pertinent part, the regulation states that the period of eligibility for the United Nations Service Medal was between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954. The regulation provides that this service medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States dispatched to Korea or adjacent areas on behalf of the United Nations. Award of the Korean Service Medal automatically establishes eligibility for award of the United Nations Service Medal.
14. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the National Defense Service Medal is awarded 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 to a date to be determined.
15. 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 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.
16. 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. 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. Item 29 on the applicant's DD Form 214 shows he sustained a gunshot wound to his right thigh on 24 February 1951. However, the Korean War Casualty Roster shows the applicant was wounded in action on 12 February 1951. Therefore, the applicant is entitled to an award of the Purple Heart and correction of item 29 on his DD Form 214 to show he was wounded on 12 February 1951 in Korea.
2. Medical evidence of record also shows the applicant was diagnosed with frostbite on 23 February 1951 in Korea severe enough to warrant amputation of his toe. Therefore, the applicant is entitled to a second award of the Purple Heart and correction of his DD Form 214 to show award of the Purple Heart with First Oak Leaf Cluster. Also, item 29 on his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this injury.
3. The Board notes the applicant is entitled to award of the United Nations Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal and correction of his DD Form 214 to show these awards.
4. 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:
a. by showing that the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart with First Oak Leaf Cluster, the United Nations Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal;
b. by deleting the entry, "GW Right Thigh 24 Feb 51" in item 29 on his DD Form 214; and
c. by adding the entries, "GW Right Thigh, 12 Feb 51, Korea" and "Frostbite (toes), 23 Feb 51, Korea" in item 29 on his DD Form 214.
BOARD VOTE:
FNE____ MVT_____ ENA____ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
__Fred N. Eichorn_____
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2003087368 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20030715 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT PLUS |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0015 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002077309C070215
12) A 15 July 2002 letter from the Army Board for Correction of Military Records denying reconsideration of the applicant's request to correct his records to promote him to the rank of first sergeant, pay grade E-8, or to chief warrant officer four (CW4). EVIDENCE OF RECORD : The applicant's military records show: The medical board records on 22 October 1952, show that the applicant was a SGT.
AF | BCMR | CY2005 | BC-2005-01819
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2005-01819 INDEX CODE: 107.00 XXXXXXX COUNSEL: NONE XXXXXXX HEARING DESIRED: NO MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE: 11 DEC 2006 ___________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Purple Heart Medal for injuries he received during the Korean War. A review of the applicant’s military personnel records and service medical records...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002078329C070215
The applicant provided a DVA Rating Decision, dated 14 May 2002, which shows that service connection was granted for residuals of frostbite to his right foot with below knee amputation. Further, this DVA rating states "service discharge examination of 1-21-52 showed a normal examination of the lower extremities" and that "there are no medical records showing frostbite in service or following service discharge." Therefore, he is entitled to award of the United Nations Service Medal and...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060010170C070205
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) to show award of the Purple Heart. The applicant’s military records are not available to the Board for review. The medical evidence of record which shows the applicant was diagnosed with frostbite on 22 December 1950 in Korea and wounded as a result of hostile action on 24 April 1951 and on 26 June 1951 in Korea are accepted as sufficient evidence on which to base three...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050000412C070206
The applicant requests that his records be corrected to show he was retired as a corporal and that he be awarded a second 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. 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...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001055103C070420
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 | CY2013 | 20130016510
The applicant had requested his DD Form 214 be corrected to show he was awarded the Purple Heart with Second Oak Leaf Cluster. Special Regulation 615-360-1 (Discharge Procedures and Preparation of Separation Forms), then in effect, stated that for item 29 of the DD Form 214 enter chronologically each wound received during the period covered by the DD Form 214 being prepared, as the result of enemy action. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050007486C070206
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 22 December 2005 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20050007486 I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual. Jeanette B. McPherson | |Member | The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. The evidence of record includes a DD Form 214 entry that confirms...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003084675C070212
The applicant states, in effect, that he should not be denied these awards to which he is entitled based on the wounds he received in action during his combat service in Korea. The applicant’s military records were not available to the Board for review. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the individual concerned the Purple Heart, for being wounded in action in Korea on 1 September 1950, the Purple Heart 1 st Oak Leaf Cluster, for...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050003819C070206
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 applicant's DD Form 214 shows award of the Korean Service Medal; however, it does not show award of the United Nations Service Medal. Therefore, it would be appropriate to correct his records to show this unit award.