RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-03989 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

 

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His brother be posthumously awarded the Purple Heart (PH). 

 

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

When his brother’s B-17 plane was shot down and crashed in the 
North Sea, he sustained injuries to both legs as he propelled 
through the plywood wall of the radio room. Twelve hours later, 
the crew was picked up by a German patrol boat and became 
Prisoners of War (POW). 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides a detailed 
account of a story as was told to him by his now deceased 
brother, an article detailing the events of 6 March 1943, copy of 
his brothers WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of 
Separation Honorable Discharge, and a copy of his death 
certificate. 

 

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

 

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STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The former member enlisted in the Air Corp on 3 February 1942. 

 

He was discharged with an honorable discharge on 5 October 1945. 
He had 3 years, 7 months and 3 days of total active service. 

 

His WD AGO Form 53-55 reflects award of the European, African, 
Middle Eastern (EAME) Campaign Medal with six bronze stars. The 
National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) was able to verify the 
former member’s entitlement to the POW Medal. 

 

The PH is awarded for wounds received as a direct result of 
enemy actions (e.g., gunshots or shrapnel wounds, hand-to-hand 
combat wounds, forced aircraft bailout injuries, etc). In 
addition, it is necessary that the wound required or received 


documented treatment by medical personnel. Indirect injuries do 
not meet the criteria for award of the PH. These include, but 
are not limited to, injuries received while seeking shelter from 
mortar or rocket attacks, aircraft bombings, grenades, and 
injuries incurred while serving as an aircrew member or in a 
passenger status as a result of the aircraft’s evasive measures 
against hostile fire. 

 

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial. DPSIDR states the applicant did 
not provide, nor were they able to locate any medical 
documentation to verify medical treatment was received for an 
injury or a statement from a medical officer attesting that an 
examination revealed that an injury of that type incurred would 
or should have received medical treatment. 

 

The complete DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the 
applicant on 22 April 2011 for review and comment within 30 days 
(Exhibit D). As of this date, this office has not received a 
response. 

 

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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 evidence and the applicant’s 
complete submission, we find no evidence which would lead us to 
believe the deceased member’s injuries were a direct result of 
enemy action or friendly fire as required for award of the PH. 
Therefore, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the 
Air Force office of primary responsibility and adopt its 
rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the deceased 
member has not been the victim of an error or injustice. While 
we appreciate and honor the deceased member’s service to his 
country, in the absence of evidence substantiating that he was 


injured as a direct result of enemy action, we find no basis to 
recommend granting the relief sought in this application. 

 

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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 Docket Number 
BC-2010-03989 in Executive Session on 24 May 2011, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 20 October 2010, w/atchs. 

Exhibit B. Applicant's Available Military Records. 

 Exhibit C. HQ AFPC/DPSIDR, Letter, dated 8 April 2011. 

 Exhibit D. SAF/MRBR, Letter, 22 April 2011. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair