IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 8 March 2011
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20100021810
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 award of the Purple Heart.
2. He states the Purple Heart is not shown on his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States).
3. He provides no additional evidence.
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 applicant's 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 applicant's 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 are not available to the Board for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members' records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. It is believed that the applicant's records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, there were sufficient documents remaining in a reconstructed record for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case.
3. He enlisted in the Regular Army on 7 September 1949. He was honorably discharged on 4 September 1951.
4. His DD Form 214 shows 11 months and 9 days of foreign service. He served in Korea as evidenced by his authorized Korean Service Medal with three bronze service stars, but the exact dates are unknown. His DD Form 214 doesn't show entitlement to the Purple Heart.
5. Item 29 (Wounds Received as a Result of Action with Enemy Forces) of his DD Form 214 shows the entry "NONE."
6. The Korean War Casualty Roster doesn't list his name. His service record contains no evidence which indicates he sustained wounds as a result of hostile action.
7. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained while in action against an enemy or as a result of hostile action. Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify the wound was the result of hostile action, the wound must have required treatment by medical personnel, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicant contends the Purple Heart is not listed on his DD Form 214; however, his service record is void of evidence on which to grant award of the Purple Heart in this case.
2. By regulation, in order to award the Purple Heart it is necessary to establish that a Soldier was wounded in action, that the wound required treatment by medical personnel, and the treatment record must have been made a matter of official record.
3. However, his service record is void of medical documents or other evidence which indicate he was wounded as a result of hostile action and his name is not listed on the Korean War Casualty Roster.
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 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) AR20100021810
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100021810
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ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
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