RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2009-00989 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

Her late Father be awarded the Purple Heart (PH) Medal. 

 

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

Her father’s records were destroyed in the 1973 fire at the 
National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri. 
However, she is submitting a copy of a newspaper article which 
confirms her father was wounded in 1943 while serving as a top 
turret gunner on a B-17 during the North Africa Campaign. She 
remembers seeing the scars on his back from the wounds he 
received and believes he is entitled to the PH. 

 

In support of her appeal, the applicant submits a personal 
statement; her father’s death certificate, and copies of a 
newspaper article concerning her late father. 

 

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit A. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

According to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), the 
member’s official military personnel file may have been destroyed 
in the 12 July 1973 fire at the NPRC. Alternate records sources 
have been used to reconstruct his service record; however, a 
complete record was unable to be reconstructed. 

 

Based on the limited available military service records, the 
member served on active duty in the Army Air Corps from 
20 February 1942 to 10 July 1943. He was honorably discharged on 
10 July 1943 in the grade of technician fifth class. 

 

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THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 

 

1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing 
law or regulations. 

 


2. The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the 
interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 

 

3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. After a 
thorough review of the available records, we found no evidence 
the member is eligible for the award of the Purple Heart. The 
personal sacrifice the applicant’s Father endured for his country 
is duly noted; however, she has not provided sufficient 
documentary evidence to substantiate that he was wounded in 
action as a direct result of enemy action. In view of the above, 
we find no basis to favorably consider this application. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 

 

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; that 
the application was denied without a personal appearance; and 
that the application will only be reconsidered upon the 
submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered 
with this application. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered this application in 
Executive Session on 5 November 2009, under the provisions of AFI 
36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered in connection 
with AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2009-00989: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 8 Mar 09, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Member’s Reconstructed Master Personnel Records. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair