2.  The applicant requests correction of his records to reflect that he was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries suffered in World War II.

3.  He states that he injured his shoulder during an enemy air attack while in New Guinea in December 1944 and believes that he should be awarded a Purple Heart for this injury.

4.  His military records show that he was inducted on 20 January 1943 and served 1 year, 8 months and 28 days in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations.  He was honorably discharged on 29 July 1945.

5.  His awards include the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and the Marksman Badge with rifle bar.

6.  The applicant’s medical records reflect that on 13 December 1944, he was treated for a dislocated right shoulder which occurred when he slipped while running for a foxhole during an enemy air raid on 26 November 1944.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as the 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 a medical officer, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.  When contemplating award of this decoration, the key issue that must be taken into consideration is the degree to which the enemy caused the injury.  The fact that the proposed recipient was participating in direct or indirect combat operations is a necessary prerequisite, but is not the sole justification for the award.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows that the applicant was a combat casualty resulting from an injury suffered during an enemy air raid.  Evidence of the injury and the circumstances under which it occurred were properly documented in the record and leave no doubt as to the propriety of the award. 

2.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained on 26 November 1944 as the result of hostile enemy action in New Guinea.

BOARD VOTE:  

                       GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

                       GRANT FORMAL HEARING

                       DENY APPLICATION




		                           
		        CHAIRPERSON