IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:  10 September 2013

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20130011247 


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.  The applicant states he was injured by shrapnel in Vietnam but he did not receive the Purple Heart.  His service medical records show he had a steel splinter removed from his hand.  It notes this was in the line of duty (LOD). 

3.  The applicant provides a Standard Form 600 (Chronological Record of Medical Care). 

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 is a retired Regular Army (RA) sergeant first class (SFC)/E-7 who after having prior service in the U.S. Air Force, served in the RA from 31 May 1962 to 30 June 1977. 

3.  He served through multiple extensions or reenlistments, in a variety of stateside or overseas assignments, including Vietnam from 29 December 1962 to 7 December 1963, 17 February to 16 May 1968, 4 October 1968 to 30 October 1969, and 11 January to 17 December 1972. 

4.  He retired on 30 June 1977 and he was placed on the Retired List in his retired rank/grade of SFC/E-7.  His last (retirement) DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) does not show award of the Purple Heart.  

5.  There is no evidence of record that shows he was injured or wounded as a result of hostile action or that he was awarded the Purple Heart.  Nothing in several typical sources show he was wounded/injured as a result of hostile action:

	a.  Item 40 (Wounds) of his contemporaneous DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) does not show a combat wound or injury.  Army Regulation 600-200 (Enlisted Personnel Management System), chapter 9, stated a brief description of wounds or injuries (including injury from gas) requiring medical treatment received through hostile or enemy action, including those requiring hospitalization would be entered in item 40 of the DA Form 20.  This regulation further stated that the date the wound or injury occurred would also be placed in item 40.

	b.  His name is not shown on the Vietnam casualty listing.  This is a Microfiche Listing of Vietnam Era Casualties that is used to verify entitlement to the Purple Heart. 

	c.  His records do not contain an official Army message or a Western Union telegram notifying his next of kin of an injury or wound.  This was the proper notification of injuries at the time. 

	d.  His complete medical records are not available for review with this case.  However, the available documents consist of a Standard Form 600, provided by the applicant, that shows the entry "2 March 1963, steel splinter removed from hand, LOD: Yes."  His other available medical records consist of a retirement physical, dated 14 June 1977, that addresses certain illnesses (fever, hernia, gall bladder) but does not mention a combat injury. 

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained while in action against and 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.

	a.  Examples of enemy-related injuries which clearly justify award of the Purple Heart are as follows:  injury caused by enemy bullet, shrapnel, or other projectile created by enemy action; injury caused by enemy placed mine or trap; injury caused by enemy released chemical, biological, or nuclear agent; injury caused by vehicle or aircraft accident resulting from enemy fire; and/or concussion injuries caused as a result of enemy generated explosions.

	b.  Examples of injuries or wounds which clearly do not justify award of the Purple Heart are as follows:  frostbite or trench foot injuries; heat stroke; food poisoning not caused by enemy agents; chemical, biological, or nuclear agents not released by the enemy; battle fatigue; disease not directly caused by enemy agents; accidents, to include explosive, aircraft, vehicular, and other accidental wounding not related to or caused by enemy action; self-inflicted wounds, except when in the heat of battle and not involving gross negligence; post-traumatic stress disorders; and/or jump injuries not caused by enemy action.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The criteria for the Purple Heart requires the submission of substantiating evidence to verify that the injury/wound was the result of hostile action, the injury/wound must have required medical treatment by medical personnel, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.

2.  The applicant's service record is void of any orders that show he was awarded the Purple Heart or that he was wounded or injured as a result of combat.  His name is not listed on the Vietnam casualty listing.  His complete medical records are not available for review with this case.  There is nothing in multiple typical sources that confirm he was wounded as a result of hostile action or that he required treatment by medical personnel.

3.  The medical documents he provides state a steel splinter was removed from his hand.  However, it does not state this was caused by the enemy.  Furthermore, the fact that it was in line of duty does not equate to "as a result of hostile action." 

4.  The applicant's contention, sincerity, and most importantly, his integrity are not in question.  However, in the absence of documentation that conclusively shows he was wounded or injured as a result of enemy action and treated for those wounds, there is an insufficient evidentiary basis for awarding him the Purple Heart.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

____X___  ____X___  ___X__ _  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

1.  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.

2.  The Board wants the applicant and all others concerned to know that this action in no way diminishes the sacrifices made by the applicant in service to our Nation.  The applicant and all Americans should be justifiably proud of his service in arms.



      _______ _  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)                                         AR20130011247





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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20130011247



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