| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Jessie B. Strickland | Analyst |
| Mr. John N. Sloan | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Roger W. Able | Member | |
| Ms. Regan K. Smith | Member |
2. The applicant requests that he be awarded the Purple Heart and that his records be corrected accordingly.
3. The applicant states, in effect, that he was injured on 21 April 1953 by enemy mortar fire near Kumsong, North Korea, and should have been awarded the Purple Heart; however he never received one. In support of his application he submits a copy of his report of separation (DD Form 214) and a Clinical Record Cover Sheet (DD Form 481-1) showing that he was wounded by enemy shell fragments to the right thigh on 21 April 1953.
4. The applicant’s military records were destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri, which destroyed millions of service records. However, information obtained from reconstructed records show that he was serving in the Ohio Army National Guard (OHARNG) when he was called to active duty on 15 January 1952, for a period of 24 months.
5. On 21 April 1953, while serving in Korea in the rank of private, the applicant was wounded by shrapnel from enemy mortar fire. He was initially treated at the 300th Armored Field Artillery Medical Detachment and was subsequently evacuated to the 279th General Hospital.
6. He was subsequently reassigned to Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he served until he was honorably released from active duty and was transferred to the OHARNG on 21 January 1954. He had served 2 years and 1 day of active service and was awarded the Korean Service Medal with one bronze service star, the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal and a Meritorious Unit Citation. In block 29 of his DD Form 214, under wounds, it indicates "None". There is no evidence in the available records to show that he was ever awarded the Purple Heart for his wounds.
7. 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 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.
8. 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 Korea 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.
9. 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 with his copy of these proceedings. 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.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The available evidence of record clearly shows that the applicant was wounded in action against the enemy and that his treatment was made a matter of record. However, it appears that an administrative oversight resulted in the failure to properly award the applicant the Purple Heart that he was entitled to receive.
2. Accordingly, the Board finds that it would be in the interest of justice to award him the Purple Heart at this time.
3. 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 by awarding the individual concerned the Purple Heart for wounds received in action against the enemy in Korea on 21 April 1953, while serving as a private, and by correcting his records accordingly.
BOARD VOTE:
___js____ ___rwa__ ___rks __ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
____John N. Slone ______
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2003088656 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 2003/08/21 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. 61 | 107.0015/PH |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002079117C070215
There is no evidence in the available records that shows the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action in Korea. The web site notes state that the additions were based on either a General Order awarding the Purple Heart, the Certificate for the Purple Heart, or a DD-214 showing the Purple Heart had been awarded and that the additions to the web site listings are distinctively marked in blue and in no way modify the original Korean War Casualty File.As a matter of information, on...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 04102657C070208
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 indicated in his September 1953 statement that he was wounded on 30 November 1950, the same date that he was captured. Therefore, the applicant's records should show that he was wounded in action on 30 November 1950.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002074473C070403
There is no evidence in the applicant’s service personnel records that shows he was awarded the Purple Heart or was wounded as a result of hostile action. 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. However, evidence of record shows the applicant participated in three campaigns during his assignment in Korea which are not...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003088968C070403
The applicant's DD Form 214 shows the Korean Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the United Nations Service Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge as authorized awards. 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, the applicant's DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this award.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002072131C070403
The applicant requests reconsideration of his previous application to correct his military records by awarding him the Purple Heart. The applicant’s submission is new evidencethat requires Board consideration. 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 | CY2005 | 20050002396C070206
The DD Form 214 does show that the Korean Service Medal was awarded with one bronze service star to denote the FSM's campaign participation while he served in the Korean War. 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. Evidence shows that the applicant’s records contain administrative error which does not require action by the Board.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003088191C070212
Counsel requests correction of the applicant’s DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) to show award of the Purple Heart, along with other decorations. 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 shows that the applicant is eligible for award of the United Nations...
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 | CY2005 | 20050003458C070206
The applicant requests, in effect, that his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation From The Armed Forces of the United States) be corrected to show award of the Purple Heart. The preponderance of evidence in this case shows that the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile actions on 29 July 1951 in Korea. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by showing award of the Purple Heart for wounds received on 29 July...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050005370C070206
The applicant provides a statement from an Army veteran that he served with in Korea, dated 30 August 2002; a VA Form 21-4138 (Department of Veterans Affairs - Statement in Support of Claim), dated 19 June 2002; Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Rating Decision, dated 4 August 2003; National Personnel Records Center letter, dated 11 February 2005; copies of DA AGO Form 1 (Morning Report) for B Battery, 37th Field Artillery Battalion, dated 6 April 1953, 20 April 1953, 26 May 1953, 4 June...