IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 7 July 2009
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20090003702
THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE:
1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any).
2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any).
THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:
1. The 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.
2. The applicant states he needs the Purple Heart for benefits.
3. The applicant provides his DD Form 214.
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. 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 also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicants failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicants failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing.
2. The applicant's military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 18 June 1969, was awarded the military occupational specialty of light weapons infantryman, and was assigned to Vietnam from 5 January to 20 November 1970.
3. The applicant's DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record), Item 41 (Awards and Decorations) does not list the Purple Heart.
4. The Vietnam Casualty List does not contain the applicant's name.
5. There are no medical records contained in the applicant's military records.
6. There are no orders in the applicant's records awarding him the Purple Heart.
7. On 21 January 1972, the applicant was honorably released from active duty and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve Control Group (Annual Training).
8. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) 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. A wound is defined as an injury to any part of the body from an outside force or agent sustained as a result of hostile action.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. Unfortunately, there are no records to corroborate the applicant's contention that he was wounded as a result of hostile action.
2. As such, there is insufficient basis to grant his request.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
_____X___ ____X____ _____X___ DENY APPLICATION
BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:
The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.
_______ _ _X______ ___
CHAIRPERSON
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20090003702
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20090003702
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