ADDENDUM TO
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2003-02584
INDEX CODE: 107.00
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS:
Award of the Purple Heart (PH) Medal for exposure to frostbite while on a
bombing mission on 27 September 1945.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
It has come to the Board’s attention that the Department of the Army has
been approving PH requests for frostbite exposure. It is, therefore, the
Board’s opinion that, since the applicant was serving under Army
regulations at the time of the incident, Army standards at the time should
apply to his initial request. In view of the foregoing, the Board is
reopening the applicant’s appeal for further consideration.
The applicant participated in the Air Offensive Europe Campaign, with an
overseas tour in England from 9 June 1943 to 5 April 1944. His WWII
medical records confirm he suffered from frostbite on his face on 27
September 1943 and was in the hospital until 30 September 1943. On
14 October 1945, the applicant was honorably discharged from the Army Air
Corps. He was serving in the grade of staff sergeant (E-5) and had
completed a total of one year, ten months and three days of continental
service and ten months and five days of foreign service at the time of
discharge.
A similar appeal was considered and denied by the Board on 19 November
2003. A summary of the evidence considered by the Board and the rationale
for its decision is set forth in the Record of Proceedings, which is
attached at Exhibit E.
_________________________________________________________________
THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:
After again reviewing this application and the evidence provided in support
of the appeal, we are convinced that the applicant’s records should be
corrected to show he was awarded the PH. Based on Army Regulation 600-45
(as amended), wherein it is stated, “A wound is defined as an injury to any
part of the body from an outside force, element, or agent sustained as the
result of a hostile act of the enemy while in action in the face of the
enemy. …The word “element” refers to weather and permits award to
personnel severely frostbitten while actually engaged in combat,” we
believe approval of the requested relief would be appropriate. Our opinion
has its basis in the fact that the applicant incurred frostbite while
flying on a bombing mission. In our estimation, given the circumstances of
this case, it is not possible to say that his injuries were sustained by
anything other than as a result of enemy actions while engaged in combat.
Therefore, we strongly believe the applicant’s records should be corrected
as 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, on 14 October 1945, he was awarded
the Purple Heart Medal for wounds to his face due to frostbite incurred
while on a bombing mission in Germany on 27 September 1945.
_________________________________________________________________
The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive
Session on 18 May 2005, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
Mr. Michael K. Gallogly, Panel Chair
Mr. Garry G. Sauner, Member
Mr. Joseph D. Yount, Member
All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The following
documentary evidence was considered in connection with AFBCMR Docket Number
BC-2003-02584.
Exhibit E. Record of Proceedings, dated 2 February 2004,
with Exhibits.
MICHAEL K. GALLOGLY
Panel Chair
AFBCMR BC-2003-02584
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 APPLICANT be corrected to show that, on 14 October 1945, he was
awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds to his face due to frostbite
incurred while on a bombing mission in Germany on 27 September 1945.
JOE G. LINEBERGER
Director
Air Force Review Boards Agency
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