RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2004-01835
INDEX NUMBER: 107.00
XXXXXXX COUNSEL: DVA
XXXXXXX HEARING DESIRED: NO
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
He be awarded the Purple Heart (PH) and his service aboard the His Majesty
Troopship (HMT) Rohna be recognized on his discharge.
_________________________________________________________________
THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He was injured on 26 November 1943, when the HMT Rohna was sunk by a radio-
controlled rocket-boosted bomb launched from a German bomber off the coast
of North Africa. Based on the secrecy of the War Department, he was
unaware of what happened until 50 years later.
In support of the appeal, applicant submits the text of a congressional
speech concerning the sinking of the HMT Rohna and a list of survivors.
Applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
Applicant is a former member of the Army Air Corps who served on active
duty from 31 October 1942 to 19 November 1945.
The PH is awarded for wounds received as a direct result of enemy actions
(i.e., gunshot or shrapnel wounds, hand-to-hand combat wounds, forced
aircraft bail out injuries, etc.). In addition, it is necessary the wound
required or received treatment by medical personnel. Indirect injuries do
not meet the criteria for award of the PH.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPPPR recommends the application be denied and states, in part, that
after careful review of applicant’s military records, they are unable to
verify his eligibility for award of the PH.
The AFPC/DPPPR evaluation is at Exhibit C.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
Counsel states the advisory opinion fails to understand that applicant was
attached to the HMT Rohna during World War II, when a German missile hit
it.
In further support of the appeal, counsel submits the comments from a
fellow crewmember who was awarded the PH, taken from the Rohna Survivors
Memorial Web page.
Counsel’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit E.
_________________________________________________________________
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. In this respect, we note the PH is
awarded for wounds received as a direct result of enemy action and it is
necessary the wound required or received treatment by medical personnel.
Applicant states he almost drowned on 26 November 1943, during the sinking
of the HMT Rohna. He further states that water was pumped from his lungs
on the deck of the U.S.S. Pioneer and he was sent to sick bay for recovery.
A review of his Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) records indicates he
recently filed for compensation for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
resulting from the incident. The personal sacrifice applicant endured for
his country and his courage during the HMT Rohna tragedy is noted and our
decision in no way diminishes the high regard we have for his service;
however, his near-drowning is not considered a wound or injury and PTSD is
not considered an injury that is the direct result of enemy action.
Therefore, in the absence of evidence that he was injured as a direct
result of enemy action, 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 BC-2004-01835
in Executive Session on 1 September 2004, under the provisions of AFI 36-
2603:
Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Chair
Mr. John E. B. Smith, Member
Ms. Kathy L. Boockholdt, Member
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 9 Mar 03, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 2 Aug 04.
Exhibit D. Letters, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 Aug 04.
Exhibit E. Letter, Counsel, dated 16 Aug 04, w/atchs.
THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
Chair
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