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 was struck by shell fragments to the groin and right thigh in Rheems, France in 1944 but was never awarded the Purple Heart for his injuries.

4.  His military records show that he was inducted on 1 February 1943 and served 2 year, 1 months and 21 days in the European Theater of Operations.  He was honorably discharged upon demobilization on 29 November 1945.

5.  His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany), the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Marksman Badge with rifle bar and the Drivers Medal.

6.  The applicant’s medical records reflect that on 26 October 1944, near Rheems, France, he was wounded in the right thigh from penetrating fragments when he stepped on an antipersonnel mine.

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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows that the applicant was a casualty as the result of a shrapnel wound to the thigh, and that the wound was the result of enemy action.

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 that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained on 26 October 1944 as a result of hostile enemy action in France.

BOARD VOTE:  

                       GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

                       GRANT FORMAL HEARING

                       DENY APPLICATION




		                           
		        CHAIRPERSON