RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: 02-02089
COUNSEL: RYAN C. PAVLU
HEARING DESIRED: NO
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
He be awarded the Purple Heart (PH).
_________________________________________________________________
THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He should be awarded the PH based on wounds he received in 1944, when a
booby trap exploded.
The applicant states that while driving a truck during a clean-up of a
parade ground with a group of Philippinos, a booby trap was thrown into the
back of the truck and exploded. He was hit behind his head by a piece of
metal and still has a scar on his forehead from the incident. He was
treated at one of the field hospitals and was given documentation from the
hospital; however, he has lost the documentation. He still suffers the
effects of the injury.
In support of the appeal, the applicant submits his personal statement and
a copy of his report of separation.
Applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant’s military records were destroyed by fire in 1973 at the
National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri.
Therefore, the following information has been obtained from the
documentation provided by the applicant.
The applicant served in the Army Air Corps from 7 November 1942 to 20
December 1945 as a light truck driver.
A Report of Physical Examination of Enlistment Personnel Prior to
Discharge, Release from Active Duty or Retirement, WD AGO 38, indicates the
applicant was wounded in action on the left ear due to a shell wound on
April 1945 at Luzon.
The PH is awarded for wounds received as a direct result of enemy action
(i.e., gunshot or shrapnel wounds, hand-to-hand combat wounds, forced
aircraft bail out injuries, etc.) that required or received treatment by
medical personnel.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPPPR recommends the application be denied and states, in part, that
the applicant’s comments indicate his injury was not sustained as a result
of enemy action, but while he was on a cleaning detail of the parade
ground. The alleged injuries resulted from the accidental explosion of the
booby trap which is not the direct result of enemy action and does not meet
the criteria for award of the PH. There is no evidence in the applicant’s
medical or personnel records which proves he was injured as a direct result
of enemy action.
The AFPC/DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit B.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant
on 4 October 2002 for review and response within 30 days. However, as of
this date, no response has been received by this office.
_________________________________________________________________
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 thoroughly reviewing the evidence
of record and noting the applicant’s contentions, we are not persuaded that
his injuries were the direct result of enemy action. The personal
sacrifice the applicant endured for his country is noted and our decision
in no way diminishes the high regard we have for his service; however,
insufficient documentary evidence has been presented to warrant awarding
him the Purple Heart. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the
contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief
sought in this application.
_________________________________________________________________
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 02-02089 in
Executive Session on 23 January 2003 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
Ms. Cathlynn Sparks, Panel Chair
Mr. John E. B. Smith, Member
Mr. Joseph A. Roj, Member
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 21 Jun 02, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 25 Sep 02.
Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 4 Oct 02.
CATHLYNN SPARKS
Panel Chair
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | BC-2004-00352
The Purple Heart is awarded for wounds received as a direct result of enemy actions. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, evidence has not been presented which would lead us to believe that his injuries were incurred as a direct result of enemy fire. Exhibit C. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 2 Jun 04.
AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-2005-01990
DPPPR states to be awarded the PH, a member must provide documentation to support he was wounded as a direct result of enemy action and must have received medical treatment by medical personnel. Exhibit B. Exhibit E. Applicant's Response.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: 01-03464 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Purple Heart (PH). _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPPPR recommends the application be denied and states, in part, that there is no evidence to support that the applicant was...
AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-2006-00002
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2006-00002 INDEX CODE: 107.00 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE: 7 JUL 07 _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His records be corrected to reflect he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) and the Purple Heart (PH). The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-33, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation...
AF | BCMR | CY2003 | BC-2002-03285
The evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: On 17 January 2003, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant for review and response within thirty (30) days. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force and adopt their rationale as the basis...
A 16 November 1943, medical record entry indicates that the applicant was treated for an infected forehead wound when he was cut by coral while swimming at Moresby beach on 11 November 1943. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPPPR recommends the application be denied and states, in part, that to be awarded the PH, a member must provide documentation to support that he was wounded as a direct result of enemy action that must have...
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | BC-2004-02254
_________________________________________________________________ THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He should have been awarded the PH since he was wounded in Vietnam. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPPPR recommends the application be denied and states, in part, that they could not find any support for award of the PH. Should the applicant provide evidence that he was injured as a direct result of enemy action, the Board will...
AF | BCMR | CY2002 | BC-2002-02470
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: 02-02470 INDEX CODE: 107.00 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Purple Heart Medal. They indicated that to be awarded the Purple Heart (PH), a member must provide documentation to support that wounds were a direct result of enemy action and that the wounds required or received...
AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-2006-00917
_________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: HQ AFPC/DPPPR recommends the applicant’s request for award of the PH be denied. The PH is awarded for wounds received as a direct result of enemy action, such as, gunshot, or shrapnel wound, hand-to-hand combat wounds, forced aircraft bail out injuries, etc. The documentation provided by the applicant and his military records do not substantiate he had an injury that met the criteria for award of the PH.
AF | BCMR | CY2007 | BC-2007-01284
DPPPR states to be awarded the PH, a member must provide documentation to support he was wounded as a direct result of enemy action. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that he was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries received in action against an enemy of the United States while on duty in Metz, France when a German mine...