ADDENDUM TO
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2001-00304A
INDEX CODE: 107.00
COUNSEL: None
HEARING DESIRED: No
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
In the applicant’s request for reconsideration, he requests he be
awarded a second Purple Heart (PH with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster (1OLC))
for injuries sustained when his plane crashed over England.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant had one year and two days of prior enlisted service as
an Army private and was honorably discharged on 17 Sep 41. He
enlisted in the Army Air Corps on 23 Jan 42, and departed for the
European Theater on 23 Apr 43. He was a Prisoner of War (POW) from
13 Jun 43 to 5 May 45. He departed the European Theater on 3 Jun 45,
arrived in the US on 11 Jun 45, was demobilized and honorably
discharged in the grade of technical sergeant (TSgt) on 25 Sep 45,
with three years, eight months and two days of active service. His WD
AGO Form 53-55 reflects he received the Good Conduct Medal, the Air
Medal, and the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and he
received no wounds in action.
On 20 Oct 00, his WD AGO Form 53-55 was administratively corrected to
reflect receipt of the PH, the POW medal, the American Campaign Medal,
the World War II victory Medal, and that he was wounded in the
European Area on 13 Jun 43. The PH was awarded based on the applicant
providing a 9 Oct 45 War Department document indicating he had been
awarded the PH for wounds received in action when he was shot down
over Germany on 13 Jun 43. HQ AFPC/DPPPR invited the applicant to
submit additional evidence to warrant the second PH; however, he did
not respond.
In an appeal dated 28 Nov 00, the applicant requested his WD AGO Form
53-55 reflect that he was a POW, promoted to the rank of master
sergeant (MSgt), and was awarded a PH 1OLC. On 27 Sep 01, the Board
granted the applicant’s requests for a POW promotion to MSgt and for
his records to reflect he was a POW from 13 Jun 43 to 5 May 45;
however, his request for the PH 1OLC was denied. The Board invited
the applicant to submit supporting evidence regarding the PH 1OLC
request for possible reconsideration.
For an accounting of the facts and circumstances surrounding the
applicant’s original case and the rationale of that decision by the
Board, see the Record of Proceedings at Exhibit G.
On 14 Apr 04, the applicant’s Senator forwarded his DD Form 149, dated
21 Jan 05, requesting the PH 1OLC, to SAF/LLI. SAF/LLI forwarded the
request for reconsideration to the AFBCMR on 4 May 05. Included is a
supporting statement from an individual identifying himself as the co-
pilot of the B-17 plane on which the applicant was a radio operator.
The co-pilot indicated they were on a mission headed to Emdem,
Germany, on 21 May 43, when they came under attack from enemy
fighters. The number two engine and left tire were burned out, but
they landed safely in an abandoned British fighter strip with a
damaged hydraulic system and a nearly empty fuel tank. The applicant
jammed his left arm into the radio receiver during the bumpy landing.
The co-pilot adds that pilots were responsible for injury reports.
The Senator’s letter, with the applicant’s DD Form 149 and
attachments, are at Exhibit H.
_________________________________________________________________
THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:
The applicant was awarded a PH for wounds sustained in action when he
was shot down over Germany on 13 Jun 43. He now requests
reconsideration of his unsuccessful appeal for a second PH based on
his B-17 being damaged by enemy fire in May 03. We carefully
considered the statement from the co-pilot of that plane. The co-
pilot describes how the B-17 was damaged after coming under attack
from enemy fighters. The aircraft made a rough, but safe, landing in
allied territory. During the landing, the co-pilot contends the
applicant jammed his left arm into the radio receiver. After careful
consideration, we cannot logically conclude that this constitutes a
wound or injury directly resulting from enemy action. While the B-17
was damaged by enemy fire, it was not “shot down,” did not “crash,”
and the applicant sustained no wounds during the encounter until the
aircraft made a rough landing in England and his arm jammed into the
receiver. While we are unable to recommend granting the applicant’s
request for the second PH, we acknowledge his achievements during
World War II, and our decision should in no way be construed as a
diminishment of his personal sacrifices.
_________________________________________________________________
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 this application in
Executive Session on 26 Jul 05 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
Mr. Michael J. Novel, Panel Chair
Ms. Janet I. Hassan, Member
Ms. Marcia Jane Bachman, Member
The following documentary evidence relating to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-
2001-00304 was considered:
Exhibit G. Record of Proceedings, dated 26 Oct 01, w/atchs.
Exhibit F. Senator’s Letter, dated 14 Apr 05, w/atchs.
MICHAEL J. NOVEL
Panel Chair
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AF | BCMR | CY2012 | BC-2012-05131
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