| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mrs. Nancy L. Amos | Analyst |
| Mr. Stanley Kelley | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Raymond J. Wagner | Member | |
| Ms. Mae M. Bulloci | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: That his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) be corrected to add the Purple Heart.
APPLICANT STATES: That his company had the duty of late evening patrol which meant leaving Camp Bearcat and entering the jungle for several days of patrol outside the camp area. It was their responsibility to clear the area of the Viet Cong between where they were dropped off and their return to camp. On one of those patrols, his squad became separated from the main company because they had been chasing the Viet Cong. While in pursuit of them, he stepped in a large hole about as deep as his knee. His knee immediately began to swell but because he did not want to be separated from his company he tried walking on it. The pain was so intense he could not carry his machine gun. A friend took his field pack. His squad walked all night trying to avoid the Viet Cong to reach camp early the next morning.
The applicant states that he was immediately sent to the clinic at Camp Bearcat where he was placed in a holding area and then taken by jeep to an Army hospital. His left knee swelled up to three or four times larger than his right knee. He stayed at the hospital for three days waiting for a plane to take him to Japan. On the way to Japan, they stopped at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines to pick up some other men. One of those men was a Marine colonel. The applicant heard his name being called out and the colonel handed him a Purple Heart, shook his hand, and then called out another name. He asked a corporal standing next to his stretcher to place his Purple Heart in his (the applicant's) bag. That was the last he saw of it. Following surgery in Japan, he was told he could not return to combat so he was assigned to Korea to finish his overseas tour. During his time in Korea, he pursued the search for his Purple Heart and the corporal that had taken it but to no avail.
As supporting evidence, the applicant provides a letter dated 14 February 2003 from his Congressman. The letter verified that the applicant picked up a Purple Heart Medal from the Congressman's office on or about 22 July 2002. The Congressman's office assisted him in obtaining the medal from the National Personnel Records Center.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records show:
He was inducted into the Army on 17 May 1966. He completed basic combat training and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupational specialty 11B (Light Weapons Infantryman).
The applicant arrived in Vietnam apparently with his unit, Company B, 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division from Fort Riley, KS, on or about 21 December 1966.
Item 38 (Record of Assignments) of the applicant's DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows he was assigned to Patient Casual Detachment on 5 March 1967 and assigned to the 121st Evacuation Hospital, Korea on 29 May 1967. Item 40 (Wounds) is blank.
The applicant was released from active duty on 17 February 1968. The Purple Heart is not listed on his DD Form 214.
The applicant is not listed on the Republic of Vietnam Casualty Roster.
The historical files of Company B, 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division; the Medical Holding Detachment, U. S. Army Hospital, Camp Zama, Japan; the 121st Evacuation Hospital, Korea, and the hospital at Clark Air force Base were reviewed at the National Archives in College Park, MD. The review failed to produce copies of general orders awarding the applicant the Purple Heart.
In response to an inquiry from the applicant, the National Personnel Records Center informed him by letter dated 27 November 2002 that they were unable to verify his entitlement to award of the Purple Heart.
Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides policy and criteria concerning individual military decorations. In pertinent part, it states that the Purple Heart is awarded to any member of an Armed Force who has been wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States. The wound must have required treatment by a medical officer and records of medical treatment for wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record. When contemplating an award of the Purple Heart, the key issue that commanders must take into consideration is the degree to which the enemy caused the injury. The fact that the proposed recipient was participating in direct or indirect combat operations is a necessary prerequisite, but is not sole justification for award.
DISCUSSION: Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, is concluded:
1. The circumstances surrounding the applicant's injury do not appear to meet the eligibility criteria for award of the Purple Heart. Although he was participating in direct combat operations, there is no evidence that the enemy caused the injury.
2. It is noted that the office of the applicant's Congressman stated that someone at the National Personnel Records Center sent the applicant a Purple Heart Medal. However, there is no evidence to show on what basis they determined he was eligible for the Purple Heart. In the absence of evidence showing his injury was caused more directly by the enemy, there is an insufficient basis on which to show he is eligible for the medal.
3. Regrettably, 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.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
__sk____ __rjw___ __mmb___ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2003090312 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20031106 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | DENY |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | Mr. Chun |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0015 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130020713
The applicant requests reconsideration of his previous request to correct his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) to show: * he received shrapnel wounds to his right leg in item 29 (Wounds Received as a Result of Action with Enemy Forces) * award of the Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman Badge 2. Section 8 (Wounds Received Through Enemy Action) of his DA Form 24 (Service Record) does not contain an entry. The criteria for award of the Purple Heart...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 03099238C070212
On 14 April 2003, in response to an inquiry from a Member of Congress (MC), the Total Army Personnel Command (PERSCOM) stated that the applicant was not listed as being wounded on the casualty report records, and that verification of entitlement to additional awards of the Purple Heart might be possible by obtaining unit morning reports and hospital admission listings, and that the applicant should contact the National Personnel Records Center for this information. There is no medical...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 20040002524C070208
The MEB Narrative Summary, dated 26 November 1968, stated that the [medical] transfer records indicated the applicant had been hospitalized in Vietnam on 8 September 1968 after having frequent right-sided headaches for several weeks. In pertinent part, it states that the Purple Heart is awarded to any member of an Armed Force who has been wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States. While the 11 September 1968 casualty roster indicated he had been hospitalized on...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090010450
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). While the SGO files indicate the applicant's knee condition was recorded as a "battle casualty," there is no other evidence available to the Board or provided by the applicant which confirms the accuracy of that entry on the SGO files. In this particular case, in the absence of more compelling medical evidence which supports the accuracy of the information in the SGO files concerning the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2015 | 20150000829
He has the piece of shrapnel that was taken from his arm while at the hospital. There is no medical evidence in his available record that shows he was wounded as a result of hostile action while in an active duty status. He provides a statement of support wherein one individual stated the applicant was wounded in the arm and had not shot himself.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050005311C070206
Ultimately, the applicant related that his training kicked in and he picked a time when it was dark and quietly crawled off the pile of dead bodies and headed toward the creek. Three other Soldiers from the applicant's unit were awarded the Purple Heart on that same order for wounds they also sustained on 9 January 1968. There is no mention in any of those documents that the applicant was held by enemy forces at any time.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 20040011556C070208
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. However, the evidence of record does show that the applicant is entitled to be awarded the NDSM for his service. Evidence shows that the applicant’s records contain administrative error which does not require action by the Board.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080008104
There is no evidence in the available records which show the applicant was disqualified for this award. Therefore, the applicant is entitled to award of the AGCM for the period 25 October 1966 through 1 October 1968 and to correction of his records to show the award of the AGCM (First Award). As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding the Purple Heart for wounds received as a result of hostile action in...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 040004569C070208
There is no conclusive evidence to show that the applicant was wounded in action. Consequently, the applicant’s records should be corrected to show that he was wounded in action on Cebu on 2 May 1945. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by showing that he was wounded in action on Cebu Island in the Philippines on 2 May 1945, by award of the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140003440
The applicant requests award of the Purple Heart and correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show the award. A review of the applicant's military personnel record failed to reveal any orders or other evidence that shows he was awarded the Purple Heart. His available military service records do not show any evidence that he was wounded or injured in action as a result of a hostile act of the enemy.