RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: 02-03285
INDEX CODE: 107.00
COUNSEL: VFW
HEARING DESIRED: NO
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
He be awarded the Purple Heart Medal.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
During World War II, on 28 July 1945 he was injured while in the turret of
the airplane. He still has the metal and shrapnel in his leg.
In support of his appeal, the applicant provided copies of pages from his
journal regarding the 28 July 1945 flight and other documentation.
Applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
During the time period in question the applicant enlisted in the Army Air
Corps on 16 November 1943.
According to the applicant’s WD AGO Form 38 (Report of Physical Examination
of Enlisted Personnel Prior to Discharge, Release from Active Duty or
Retirement) there is no reference to the applicant having been wounded or
injured.
On 15 November 1945, the applicant was honorably discharged in the grade of
staff sergeant under the provisions of AR 615-365 RR 1-1 (Convenience of
the Government/Demobilization).
The applicant received the following awards: the Good Conduct Medal,
American Theater Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theater with 4 Bronze
Stars, and the World War II Victory Medal.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPPPR recommended denial. They indicated that this case was not
presented to the Purple Heart Review Board because of insufficient
information/documentation to verify eligibility. Applicant has not
provided any documentation showing that he received any wounds or injuries
during World War II, and the medical records available only show that he
was hospitalized at Camp Shelby, MS in 1944 for pneumonia, at Laughlin
Field, TX in May 1944 for appendicitis, and on Okinawa in September 1945
for Psychoneurosis (4 days). Applicant provided a copy of pages he stated
were from his journal regarding the flight on 28 July 1945. There is no
mention of his having been hit by shrapnel or anything else. All medical
documents and his Report of Separation reflect that the applicant received
no wounds or injuries while in the Pacific Theater of Operations.
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. 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 warranting award of the Purple Heart Medal.
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 for our conclusion
that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice.
According to the applicant’s available medical records, the documentation
that he provided, and his Report of Separation, there are no indications
that he received any wounds or injuries
or specifically, that he was hit by shrapnel, during World War II.
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 AFBCMR Docket Number 02-03285
in Executive Session on 6 March 2003, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
Ms. Cathlynn B. Sparks, Panel Chair
Ms. Nancy W. Drury, Member
Mr. Robert H. Altman, Member
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 9 October 2002, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 10 January 2003,
w/atchs.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 17 January 2003.
CATHLYNN B. SPARKS
Panel Chair
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: 02-00722 INDEX CODE: 107.00 COUNSEL: TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Purple Heart (PH) Medal. Hospitalized while prisoner of war. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the...
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.
AF | BCMR | CY2003 | BC-2002-02730
_________________________________________________________________ THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He should be awarded the PH because he was hit by shrapnel from enemy fire and should be awarded the DFC because he completed over 25 combat missions. The applicant also states that during the period in question, the 8th Air Force had an established policy whereby the DFC was awarded upon the completion of 25 combat missions. ...
AF | BCMR | CY2003 | BC-2002-02089
_________________________________________________________________ THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: He should be awarded the PH based on wounds he received in 1944, when a booby trap exploded. There is no evidence in the applicant’s medical or personnel records which proves he was injured as a direct result of enemy action. 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.
AF | BCMR | CY2003 | BC-2003-00899
There is no indication of an aircraft accident and his being held prisoner of war (POW). The evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit D. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: On 8 August 2003, copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant for review and response within 30 days. The applicant claims that his records are incomplete because they do not reflect an aircraft accident or that he was...
________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: As a tail gunner in a B-24 Bomber during World War II, his plane was gunned down by the Germans. ___________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The Recognition Programs Branch, AFPC/DPPPR, indicates that the Purple Heart is awarded for wounds received as a direct result of enemy action. THOMAS C. MARKIEWICZ Panel Chair AFBCMR 00-03104 MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF...
AF | BCMR | CY2005 | BC-2003-00854
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2003-00854 INDEX CODE: 107.00 COUNSEL: MR. BERNIE GAMBER VETERANS SERVICE OFC HEARING DESIRED: NO MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE: 16 AUGUST 2006 _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: Award of the Purple Heart (PH) for injuries sustained while flying on a combat mission in the Pacific Theater on 15 June 1944. DPPPR indicates that an...
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | BC-2002-03224
_________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPPPR recommends denial of the applicant’s request for award of the PH medal. AFPC/DPPPR recommends denial of the applicant’s request for award of the PH medal. The applicant has not provided any documentation or corroborating evidence that he suffered any injuries or wounds while a POW in Germany.
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | BC-2003-03484
The HQ AFPC/DPPPR evaluation, with attachment, is at Exhibit C. _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to applicant on 23 April 2004 for review and response. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that he was...
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.