| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Jessie B. Strickland | Analyst |
| Ms. Joann H. Langston | Chairperson | ||
| Ms. Margaret K. Patterson | Member | ||
| Mr. Arthur A. Omartian | Member |
2. The applicant requests that his report of separation (DD Form 214) be corrected to reflect his award of the Purple Heart.
3. The applicant states, in effect, that his DD Form 214 does not include the Purple Heart for wounds he received in Vietnam. He goes on to state that he was wounded in Vietnam during his first tour and was medically evacuated (medivaced) to Clark Air Force Base and then to the Navy hospital in Guam. He was then returned to Vietnam to finish his tour.
4. The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in Guam on 11 May 1956. He completed his training in Hawaii and remained on active duty through a series of continuous reenlistments. He was promoted to the pay grade of E-6 on 30 June 1966.
5. He was transferred to Vietnam on 20 September 1966 and was assigned to the 1st Battalion 8th Cavalry Regiment as a fire direction chief in military occupational specialty 11C40.
6. On 24 January 1967, he received a gunshot wound to the chest (Sucking chest wound). He was medivaced to hospitals in Vietnam, Japan and Guam for treatment. He was returned to Vietnam on 4 May 1967 and completed his tour on 26 September 1967.
7. He was promoted to the pay grade of E-7 on 5 November 1969 and served another tour in Vietnam from August 1970 to May 1971. On 30 June 1976, he was honorably released from active duty and was placed on the Retired List effective 1 July 1976. He had served 20 years, 1 month and 20 days of total active service. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Good Conduct Medal (5th Award), the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, the Drill Instructor Badge, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
8. A review of the available records fails to show that he was awarded the Purple Heart for his wounds. However, his records do reflect that he was wounded on 24 January 1967 and his name appears on the Vietnam Casualty Listing for that wound.
9. 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.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. Although there is no evidence present which shows that the applicant was ever awarded the Purple Heart, there is sufficient evidence present to show that he was in fact wounded, that he was treated by medical personnel and that he was reported as a casualty.
2. Therefore, the Board finds it reasonable to presume that he was in fact awarded the Purple Heart and that an administrative error resulted in it not being placed in his records. Accordingly, the Board finds that it would be in the interest of justice to add his award of the Purple Heart to his records 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 showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart.
BOARD VOTE:
___jhl___ ___ao___ ___mkp__ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
____Joann Langston_____
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2003089531 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 2003/10/23 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. 61 | 107.0015/PH |
| 2. 189 | 110.0000/CORR 214 |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003090816C070212
A review of the available records fails to show that the applicant was ever wounded or that he was awarded the Purple Heart. The Board has noted the applicant's contention that he was wounded in Vietnam and should have been awarded the Purple Heart; however, the evidence of record does not support his contention and the evidence submitted by the applicant is not sufficient to substantiate his claim that he was the person being treated. The Board determined that the evidence presented and...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001062112C070421
An order published by 85 th Evacuation Hospital [in Vietnam] shows that the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart for the wounds that he received on 7 October 1967. There is no evidence, however, nor has the applicant provided any, to show that he was wounded on another occasion, either on 7 October 1967, or any other date. 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...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070000353
The applicant contends that he is entitled to award of the Purple Heart because of a fragmentation chest wound sustained as a result of combat in the Republic of Vietnam. Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award. 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 sustained in the Republic of Vietnam on 28 May 1966.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 03099782C070212
The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. Although the applicant’s name may not be reflected among the list of individuals reported as combat casualties during the Vietnam War, based on the typed wound entry on his Department of the Army Form 20, the subsequent medical treatment document which mention the shrapnel wound, and the fact that the wound was also recorded on his separation document, there is sufficient evidence to...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140007989
His records contain a Standard Form 513, dated 2 November 1967, showing the applicant was referred for evaluation and recommendation for separation due to the gunshot wound in his right chest with residual pain incurred in the Republic of Vietnam. Therefore, he should be awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) for the period 16 November 1965 through 15 November 1967 and his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this award. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090020725
He would like his records corrected to show all Purple Heart medals that he is entitled to based on his wounds. Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the following awards: * National Defense Service Medal * Combat Infantryman Badge * Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze service star * Vietnam Campaign Medal * Bronze Star Medal 7. As a result, the Board recommends that all...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060006466
The applicant requests award of the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster for a mortar wound injury in Vietnam resulting in a surgically altered anus and a second award of the Purple Heart for frostbite to toes and foot while in combat in Korea. Additionally, there are no orders in his Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) showing he was awarded the Purple Heart. Therefore, the Board requests that the CMSD-St. Louis administratively correct the records of the individual concerned by adding...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100011999
Item 24 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of the applicants DD Form 214 shows he was awarded one Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze service star, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by awarding the applicant the: *...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120011645
The applicant requests correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) effective 25 March 1968 to show award of the Purple Heart. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) authorizes award of a bronze service star based on qualifying service for each campaign listed in appendix B. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending his DD Form 214 by deleting the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100030424
Army Regulation 600-8-22 states the VSM is awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States for qualifying service in Vietnam after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973. Therefore, it would be appropriate award him the Purple Heart for wounds sustained as a result of hostile actions in Vietnam on 18 July 1967 and correction of his DD Form 214 to show this award. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected...