RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2004-01775
INDEX CODE: 107.00
COUNSEL: NONE
XXXXXXX HEARING DESIRED: NO
___________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
Her deceased husband be awarded the Purple Heart (PH) medal for
injuries sustained during World War II.
___________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
The former service member should have been awarded the Purple Heart
medal at discharge.
In support of the appeal, applicant submitted letters from three
former crewmembers explaining the circumstances of the former
service member’s injury; a copy of the former member’s death
certificate and his honorable discharge certificate, dated 5 Oct
45.
Applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.
___________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The former member enlisted in the Army Air Corps on 7 Jan 44. His
highest grade held was staff sergeant. He was honorably discharged
on 5 Oct 45 and was credited with 1 year, 9 months, and 19 days of
active duty service.
WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation -
Honorable Discharge, item 34, Wounds Received in Action, states
“NONE.”
The former member was awarded the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Air
Medal, with 2 oak leaf clusters, Good Conduct Medal, and the
Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, with 8 bronze stars.
The former service member died on 2 September 2003.
___________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
HQ AFPC/DPPPR reviewed this application and recommended denial.
They indicated the Purple Heart Medal is awarded for injuries
suffered as a direct result of enemy action and must have received
medical treatment by medical personnel. Indirect injuries do not
meet the criteria for award of the PH. These include, but are not
limited to, injuries received while seeking shelter from mortar or
rocket attacks, aircraft bombings, grenades, and injuries incurred
while serving as an aircrew member or in passenger status because
of the aircraft’s evasive measures against hostile fire.
DPPPR researched the former member’s personnel record and documents
attached to the DD Form 149 and could not find any support for
award of the PH.
A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.
___________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant
on 10 Sep 04 for review and comment within 30 days. As of this
date, no response has been received by this office (Exhibit D).
___________________________________________________________________
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. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate
the existence of error or injustice warranting award of the Purple
Heart medal. After a thorough review of the applicant’s complete
submission, including the statements submitted in the former
member’s behalf from three fellow crewmembers, we are convinced the
injury sustained by the applicant was the direct result of enemy
action. In November 1944, the former member received an injury to
the head while serving as a gunner on a B-24 during a mission over
Tarakan, Borneo. In view of the above and in recognition of his
service to the Nation during a period of national emergency and to
preclude any possibility of an injustice to the applicant, we
recommend his records be corrected to the extent indicated below.
___________________________________________________________________
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 awarded the
Purple Heart for injuries he received in action against an enemy of
the United States during a mission over XXXXX, in November 1944.
___________________________________________________________________
The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number
BC-2004-01775 in Executive Session on 2 November 2004, under the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:
Mr. Richard A. Peterson, Panel Chair
Mr. Gregory A. Parker, Member
Mr. James W. Russell III, Member
All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The
following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 27 May 04, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPR, dated 25 Aug 04.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 Sep 04.
RICHARD A. PETERSON
Panel Chair
AFBCMR BC-2004-01775
MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF
Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air
Force Board for Correction of Military Records and under the
authority of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A Stat
116), it is directed that:
The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air
Force relating to XXXXXXXX, XXXXXXX, be corrected to show that he
was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries he received in action
against an enemy of the United States during a mission over XXXXX,
in November 1944.
JOE G. LINEBERGER
Director
Air Force Review Boards Agency
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