RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NO: 00-02872
INDEX CODE 107.00
COUNSEL: None
HEARING DESIRED: No
The applicant, a retired master sergeant, requests he be awarded the
Purple Heart (PH) and the Prisoner of War (POW) medals. Applicant's
submission is at Exhibit A.
The appropriate Air Force office evaluated applicant's application and
provided an advisory opinion to the Board recommending his request for
the PH be denied (Exhibit C). The Air Force administratively corrected
the applicant’s 14 Jan 46 Report of Separation to reflect receipt of
the POW medal (8 Apr 42-5 Sep 45) and will forward him the medal. The
Air Force also requested the applicant provide additional information
regarding his PH claim; however, he did not respond. The advisory
opinion was forwarded to the applicant for review and response
(Exhibit D). As of this date, this office has received no response.
The applicant’s request for the POW medal has been corrected
administratively. Therefore, the only issue remaining for this Board’s
consideration is his appeal for the PH. After careful consideration
of the applicant's submission and the available evidence of record, we
find insufficient evidence of error or injustice to warrant awarding
the PH. Despite requests for additional information, the applicant has
provided no evidence demonstrating he was wounded as a direct result
of enemy action. In fact, we note that in a 10 Sep 45 Affidavit for
Military Personnel, the applicant indicated he had received no wounds
while a POW and, in a 24 Oct 45 Report of Interview of Recovered
Personnel, he indicated his treatment while a prisoner was fair to
good. The facts and opinions stated in the advisory opinion appear to
be based on the evidence of record and have not been rebutted by
applicant. Absent persuasive evidence applicant was denied rights to
which entitled, appropriate regulations were not followed, or
appropriate standards were not applied, we find no basis to disturb
the existing record.
Accordingly, applicant's request is denied.
The Board staff is directed to inform applicant of this decision.
Applicant should also be informed that this decision is final and will
only be reconsidered upon the presentation of new relevant evidence
which was not reasonably available at the time the application was
filed.
Members of the Board Ms. Rita S. Looney, Mr. George Franklin and Mr.
William H. Anderson considered this application on 5 June 2001 in
accordance with the provisions of Air Force Instruction 36-2603, and
the governing statute, 10, U.S.C. 1552.
Panel Chair
Exhibits:
A. Applicant's 2 DD Form 149s
B. Available Master Personnel Records
C. Advisory Opinion, w/atch
D. SAF/MIBR Ltr Forwarding Advisory Opinion
AF | BCMR | CY2011 | BC-2011-01670
The applicant received frostbite injuries in January 1945 while a POW; however, frostbite is not normally an injury which qualifies a member for entitlement to the PH. In this respect, we note Army Regulation 600-45, provides that the PH Medal may be awarded to members who are wounded in action against an enemy of the United States, and defined a wound as an injury to any part of the body from an outside force, element, or agent sustained as a result of a hostile act of the enemy. Exhibit...
The applicant provided a 9 Oct 45 War Department document indicating that he was awarded the PH for wounds received in action on 13 Jun 43 in the European Theater. A complete copy of the evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit C. The Chief, Inquiries/AFBCMR Section, HQ AFPC/DPPPWB, advised that, since the applicant was a POW for approximately 23 months, he meets the prerequisites for a POW promotion and recommends he be promoted to MSgt effective 24 Sep 45, one day prior to his discharge...
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | BC-2003-03664
_________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: HQ AFPC/DPW recommends denial of POW status or the POW medal because the applicant was an internee in Sweden and, by definition, was not a POW. A complete copy of the evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit C. HQ AFPC/DPPPR recommends denial of the PH medal because there is no evidence in the applicant’s military personnel record demonstrating he was injured as a direct result of enemy action, and...
AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC-2013-01539
The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the letter prepared by the Air Force office of primary responsibility, which is attached at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPSID recommends denial indicating there is no evidence of an error or an injustice. While the deceased member was a POW from 31 Jan 45 to 29 Apr 45, the applicant did not submit documentation which verifies the deceased...
AF | BCMR | CY2010 | BC-2010-01833
The PH is awarded for wounds received as a direct result of enemy actions (e.g., gunshot or shrapnel wounds, hand-to-hand combat wounds, forced aircraft bailout injuries, etc.). _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: HQ AFPC/DPWC recommends denial for the award of the POW Medal. Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPWC, dated 16 Nov 10.
AF | BCMR | CY2005 | BC-2001-00304A
On 27 Sep 01, the Board granted the applicant’s requests for a POW promotion to MSgt and for his records to reflect he was a POW from 13 Jun 43 to 5 May 45; however, his request for the PH 1OLC was denied. While the B-17 was damaged by enemy fire, it was not “shot down,” did not “crash,” and the applicant sustained no wounds during the encounter until the aircraft made a rough landing in England and his arm jammed into the receiver. Novel, Panel Chair Ms. Janet I. Hassan, Member Ms. Marcia...
While receiving treatment, he was informed that he was to receive the PH Medal for service-connected injuries at the hands of the enemy. A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation is attached at Exhibit C. 2 AFBCMR 96-03428 APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant reviewed the Air Force evaluation and indicated that he is extremely disappointed in DPPPRA' s recommendation to deny his application. Exhibit D. Letter, AFBCMR, dated 23 Feb 98.
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | BC-2002-03224
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AF | BCMR | CY2004 | BC-2003-03192
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The applicant’s case file reveals that the Director, Personnel Accountability, HQ AFPC/DPW, requested the applicant’s discharge document be corrected to reflect he was a POW from 22 Feb 45 to 29 Apr 45. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The Recognition Programs Branch, HQ AFPC/DPPPR, stated that the applicant’s request for award of the Purple Heart (PH) medal was forwarded to the Purple Heart Review Board (PHRB) on 4 Jan 00. ...