Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
Ms. Deborah L. Brantley | Senior Analyst |
Mr. Raymond J. Wagner | Chairperson | |
Mr. Melvin H. Meyer | Member | |
Mr. Robert L. Duecaster | Member |
THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:
1. The applicant requests award of the Purple Heart.
2. The applicant states, in effect, that he was wounded as a result of hostile action in December 1950 and was told that he would receive the Purple Heart.
3. The applicant provides extracts from newspaper articles published at the time.
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. The applicant is requesting correction of an error which occurred on
31 December 1969. The application submitted in this case is dated 20 May 2003.
2. Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse failure to file within the 3-year statute of limitation if the ABCMR determines that it would be in the interest of justice to do so. In this case, the ABCMR will conduct a review of the merits of the case to determine if it would be in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file.
3. Records available to the Board indicate that the applicant initially entered active duty on 23 June 1949 and retired for length of service on 31 December 1969.
4. A 22 December 1950 War Department Battle Casualty Report confirms that the applicant was "seriously wounded in action" in Korea on 27 November 1950. There is, however, no indication that he was ever awarded the Purple Heart.
5. 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 award to eligible US veterans of the Korean War, or their surviving next of kin. The medal is provided at no cost to the veterans. 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. To apply, veterans must provide 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.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
The evidence confirms that the applicant was wounded in action on
27 November 1950 and as such, is entitled to an award of the Purple Heart. His records should be corrected accordingly.
BOARD VOTE:
__RJW __ __MHM _ __RLD__ GRANT RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
CASE ID | AR2003091276 |
SUFFIX | |
RECON | YYYYMMDD |
DATE BOARDED | 20040219 |
TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
DATE OF DISCHARGE | YYYYMMDD |
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
DISCHARGE REASON | |
BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
ISSUES 1. | 107.00 |
2. | |
3. | |
4. | |
5. | |
6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002072736C070403
The applicant states that his DD Form 214 shows that he was wounded in action but does not show 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. 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 | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050003323C070206
Jeanette McCants | |Member | The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. 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 add this foreign award to his separation document. The evidence confirms the applicant was wounded in action on 17 September 1950 in Korea and that he was awarded the Purple Heart.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002068730C070402
The applicant states that the Purple Heart was not included on his DD Form 214 when he was released from service after being wounded in Korea. That form does not show that he was wounded in action, nor does it indicate 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.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002075855C070403
The applicant requests, in effect, that his records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart. Army Regulation 600-8-22 states that personnel awarded the Korean Service Medal are automatically entitled to the United Nations Service Medal. 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 add this foreign award to his separation document.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003086852C070212
A review of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 indicates that the applicant's unit (27 th Infantry Regiment) was awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for the period 1 August through 11 August 1950, which coincided with the date the applicant was wounded in 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...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002072208C070403
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 is also entitled to award of the United Nations Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. 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 United...
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 | 2002073324C070403
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 is also entitled to award of the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, the United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002073284C070403
The applicant states that he was wounded in the right thigh in Korea on 25 July 1950. 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 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 Combat Infantryman Badge, the National Defense...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002075179C070403
The applicant states that he was discharged with a medical discharge. 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 two awards of the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal with two bronze...