THE APPLICANT’S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE;

1. The applicant requests two awards of the Purple Heart for two different wounds sustained in Vietnam.

2. The applicant states, in effect, that he was not awarded the Purple Heart at the time of either injury. He was wounded once by the accidental explosion of a grenade and once during a mortar attack.

3. The applicant provides copies of service medical record pages and pages 3 and 4 of his DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record).

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1. The applicant is requesting correction of an alleged error or injustice which occurred on 17 November 1967. The application submitted in this case is dated 1 June 2004.

2. 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 allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse failure to file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines that it would be in the interest of justice to do so. In this case, the ABCMR will conduct a review of the merits of the case to determine if it would be in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file.

3. The applicant's military records show he enlisted on 20 November 1964, completed training as a vehicle mechanic and was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. He arrived in Vietnam on 19 August 1966 and served with 2nd Battalion, 32nd Artillery Regiment until 1 0 August 1967.

4. On 17 November 1967, he was separated from active duty with an honorable characterization of service and transferred to the Army Reserve Control Group (Reinforcement). His DO Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) lists his authorized awards as the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze service star, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with "1960" device and the Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar.