IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 12 May 2011
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20100026438
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 correction of his records to show the award of the Purple Heart.
2. The applicant states, in effect, he was awarded the Purple Heart while assigned to Battery B, 171st Field Artillery Battalion.
3. The applicant provides his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States).
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 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 his 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. The applicant's DD Form 214 shows:
* he entered active service on 1 September 1951
* his most significant duty assignment was with Battery B, 171st Field Artillery Battalion
* he completed 1 year and 1 month of net service for pay purposes
* he completed 6 months and 1 day of foreign service
* he was honorably discharged on 30 September 1952
* no wounds received as a result of action with enemy forces
4. His reconstructed record does not contain orders awarding him the Purple Heart. Additionally, his medical records are not available for review with this case and his name is not shown in the Korean Casualty File.
5. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides that 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 that 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 requests correction of his DD Form 214 to show the award of the Purple Heart. Award of the Purple Heart requires:
a. the Soldier to have been injured or wounded as a result of action with hostile forces.
b. the wound must have required treatment by medical personnel, and the medical treatment for wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record.
2. There is no evidence in his reconstructed record and he did not provide any evidence that shows he was wounded or injured as a result of hostile action or treated for such wounds or that his treatment was made a matter of official record. In the absence of evidence, regrettably, there is an insufficient basis to grant his relief.
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) AR20100026438
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100026438
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