ADDENDUM TO
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: 00-03286
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: No
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
Reconsideration be given to his requests for award of the Purple Heart
(PH).
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant was inducted into the United States Army Air Corps on 14
November 1942. He performed duty as a Flight Maintenance Gunner. He was a
Prisoner of War from June 1944 to September 1944. On 24 May 1945, a Board
of Medical Officers found the applicant unfit for continued military
service because of psychoneurosis resulting from combat; persistence of
anxiety prevents performance of duty. He was issued a Certificate of
Disability for Discharge with an honorable characterization of service.
Effective 18 June 1987, the DVA assigned his disability rating at 40
percent based on his service-connected nervous disorder.
On 18 July 2001, the Board considered and denied the applicant’s request
for award of the PH. For an accounting of the facts see the Record of
Proceedings at Exhibit E.
On 26 November 2001, the applicant submitted a request for reconsideration,
stating that he still deserves the award of the PH. To support this
assertion, the applicant provided a personal statement; copies of news
bulletins and copies of official orders issued after his release as a
prisoner of war. The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit F.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPPPR recommends the application again be denied. DPPPR states that
to be awarded a PH a member must be wounded as a direct result of enemy
action and must receive medical treatment by medical personnel. In
February 1996, changes were implemented which extend the eligibility for
award of the PH to former prisoners of war (POW) that were held prior to 25
April 1962 and who suffered wounds or injuries at the hands of their
captors. However, it is still necessary that the wounds required or
received treatment by medical personnel.
DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit G.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 4
February 2002 for review and response. As of this date, this office has
received no response (Exhibit H).
_________________________________________________________________
THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:
After careful consideration of the applicant’s request and his most recent
submission, we are unpersuaded that a revision of the Board’s earlier
determination is warranted. We took note of the documentation he provided
in support of his request. However, this information does not substantiate
that the applicant had an injury that met the criteria for award of the PH.
Furthermore, there is no indication in the available service or DVA
medical records in the form of evidence of scarring or residuals of a wound
the applicant may have received during the period under review. Therefore,
we are left with the applicant's unsupported allegations, which do not, in
our view, provide an adequate basis for approval of the requested relief.
While we are not unmindful or unappreciative of the applicant’s service to
his Nation, in the absence of the above-cited medical documentation, we
agree with the opinion of the Air Force and find no compelling basis to
warrant favorable consideration of this application.
_________________________________________________________________
THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:
The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate
the existence of probable 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 20 March 2002, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
Mr. David C. Van Gasbeck, Panel Chair
Ms. Brenda L. Romine, Member
Ms. Martha Maust, Member
The following documentary evidence was considered during this review of
AFBCMR Docket Number 00-03286:
Exhibit E. Record of Proceedings, dated 19 July 2001,
with Exhibits.
Exhibit F. Applicant’s Letter, dated 26 November 2001, with
attachments.
Exhibit G. Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 17 January 2002.
Exhibit H. Letter, AFBCMR, dated 4 February 2002.
DAVID C. VAN GASBECK
Panel Chai
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