IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 6 January 2015
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20140007314
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 DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) to show award of the Purple Heart.
2. The applicant states:
* he received the Purple Heart and wore it until he lost it
* he never noticed that it was not listed on his DD Form 214
3. The applicant 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 enlisted in the Regular Army on 20 September 1968 for 2 years. He was honorably discharged on 27 March 1970 for immediate reenlistment. He reenlisted on 28 March 1970 for 6 years. He arrived in Vietnam on 7 June 1970. He was honorably discharged on 16 April 1971 for immediate reenlistment. He reenlisted on 17 April 1971 for 6 years.
3. His DD Form 214 for the period ending 16 April 1971 does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award.
4. He departed Vietnam on 30 April 1971. On 7 October 1975, he was discharged under honorable conditions.
5. His DD Form 214 for the period ending 7 October 1975 does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award.
6. There is no evidence in the available records showing the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart or that he was wounded as a result of hostile action in Vietnam.
7. His name does not appear on the Vietnam casualty roster.
8. A review of the Awards and Decorations Computer-Assisted Retrieval System, an index of general orders issued during the Vietnam era between 1965 and 1973 maintained by the U.S. Army Human Resources Command Military Awards Branch, failed to reveal any orders for the Purple Heart pertaining to the applicant.
9. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained 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 military medical personnel, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicant contends he received the Purple Heart.
2. Army Regulation 600-8-22 establishes basic requirements for award of the Purple Heart and all other awards. The Purple Heart requires evidence to verify:
* the wound was the result of hostile action
* treatment of the wound by medical personnel
* documentation of the wound in official records
3. There are no orders for the Purple Heart in the available records.
4. There is no evidence of record and he provided no evidence that shows he was wounded or injured as a result of hostile action in Vietnam. Regrettably, there is insufficient evidence on which to base adding award of the Purple Heart to his DD Form 214.
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) AR20140007314
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20140007314
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