RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2004-03001
INDEX CODE: 110.00
XXXXXXXX COUNSEL: None
XXXXXXXXXX HEARING DESIRED: NO
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
He be given a medal for his heroic actions in saving another member’s life.
In addition, his certificate of service be corrected to reflect his rank
of captain and his date and place of birth be documented.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He was a captain in the medical corps serving as the Flight Base surgeon.
He set out on foot in the snow for approximately 6 to 10 miles to examine a
sick child. When he arrived, he found the child to be conscious, but
displayed a stiff neck and a fever. She had T.B. meningitis. On his return
to base in the snow, the fellow Army corporal collapsed in the snow and did
not want to go on. He ordered him to get up and hauled him to his feet.
It was 40 degrees below zero and he would have frozen to death if left
alone. When they finally arrived at the Military Police shack, his
commanding officer and others were impressed when they heard his story. He
was told he had saved the corporal’s life and he was going to be
recommended for a medal for his actions. Unfortunately, he never received
the medal. This is a true accounting of events and asks that consideration
be given to his request.
In support of his appeal, applicant submits a personal statement, a letter
from his Congressional member and copies of his Certificate of Military
Service. Applicant’s submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant’s records were lost or destroyed and efforts at
reconstruction have been, for the most part, unsuccessful. The following
is the only known information pertaining to the applicant's service and was
extracted from the partially reconstructed record.
The applicant’s Certificate of Military Service indicates the applicant
entered active service in the Army of the United States on 17 February
1942. He was honorably released from active duty on 25 January 1946 in the
grade of captain.
On 24 September 2004, the National Personnel Records Center corrected the
applicant’s certificate of service to reflect applicant’s correct rank,
date and place of birth.
Based on the loss of the applicant’s records and in the absence of official
documentation pertaining to the applicant’s service or the alleged events
cited as a basis for his request for a medal, no advisory opinion was
prepared in this case.
_________________________________________________________________
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. After a thorough review of the
applicant’s submission and the available evidence, we are not persuaded
that he should be awarded a medal. We note the applicant’s assertions that
he was going to be recommended for a medal for his heroic action; however,
he did not provide any documentary evidence to substantiate his claim, such
as eyewitness statements that would account for his actions. The
recommendation to deny the requested relief in no way diminishes the high
regard we have for his service. However, in view of the above, we find no
basis to favorably consider this application.
4. In regard to the applicant’s request that his Certificate of Service be
corrected to reflect his date, place of birth and rank of captain, we note
that on 24 September 2004, a corrected Certificate of Service was
accomplished reflecting these corrections. Therefore, action by this Board
on this request is not required.
_________________________________________________________________
THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:
The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not demonstrate
the existence of probable 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 18 January 2005, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
Mr. Robert S. Boyd, Panel Chair
Ms. B J White-Olson, Member
Mr. Larry Cawthon, Member
The following documentary evidence for AFBCMR Docket Number 2004-03001 was
considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 4 Aug 03, w/atchs.
ROBERT S. BOYD
Panel Chair
CG | BCMR | Medals and Awards | 2010-249
The fact that he was unaware or had forgotten by August 2010 that Coast Guard members may be recommended for a Gold or Silver Lifesaving Award—instead of a purely military medal, such as a Coast Guard Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, or Coast Guard Commendation Medal—if their acts of heroism are performed while on leave or liberty does not explain why he failed to seek a higher award sooner if he felt his Coast Guard Com- mendation Medal was insufficient. His Group Commander recommended...
CG | BCMR | Alcohol and Drug Cases | 2010-249
The fact that he was unaware or had forgotten by August 2010 that Coast Guard members may be recommended for a Gold or Silver Lifesaving Award—instead of a purely military medal, such as a Coast Guard Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, or Coast Guard Commendation Medal—if their acts of heroism are performed while on leave or liberty does not explain why he failed to seek a higher award sooner if he felt his Coast Guard Com- mendation Medal was insufficient. His Group Commander recommended...
CG | BCMR | Retirement Cases | 2010-249
The fact that he was unaware or had forgotten by August 2010 that Coast Guard members may be recommended for a Gold or Silver Lifesaving Award—instead of a purely military medal, such as a Coast Guard Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, or Coast Guard Commendation Medal—if their acts of heroism are performed while on leave or liberty does not explain why he failed to seek a higher award sooner if he felt his Coast Guard Com- mendation Medal was insufficient. His Group Commander recommended...
AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC-2012-00001
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-00001 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO IN THE MATTER OF: _______________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Airman’s Medal (AmnM) instead of the Air Force Commendation Medal for saving the life of an active duty dependent. _______________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: According to the applicant’s...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 03098211C070212
In a 1994 letter, included with his application to the Board, he stated that there was a War Department letter dated in 1945 that he was treated for frostbite in January 1945 and trench foot in March 1945. The applicant provides extracts from his Department of Veterans Affairs records, several letters authored by him over the years to various military agencies and officials, a copy of the 1945 note from his commander indicating that he was recommending him for the Silver Star for...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 20040007380C070208
On 29 October 1973 the applicant was released from active duty as a captain in order to enlist in the Regular Army for the purpose of retirement. "… for extraordinary heroism in action. The above citations reflect extraordinary heroism and risk of life by those Soldiers who were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for their actions in combat.
AF | BCMR | CY2010 | BC-2010-04486
and his affidavit, the letter she received from General H., the accounts of this mission by W.S., who flew out of Takhli that day, the affidavit of her father's best friend, the letters from MGen M., and her recollections as a child (her birth certificate verifies kinship, Exhibit N), it is apparent that her father died while trying to save the life of his wingman, Capt B. The applicant provided as evidence a personal affidavit. (Exhibit I) and her father's commander, Col. E.M. (Exhibits L...
AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-1986-01756-2
He cites another serviceman who received the MOH for heroic service in attempting to rescue a fellow officer from a flaming aircraft in 1920. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit F. _________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: AFPC/DPPPR recommends the applicant’s request be denied. _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: In earlier findings, the Board denied the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110004583
His MOC states that the applicant received the MSM for his actions which led to the saving of a civilian womans life, during what has become known as the Great Blizzard of 1978. The applicant along with two other RI Army National Guard (RIARNG) Soldiers was also awarded the Valley Forge Cross from the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) for their actions during the emergency. Two memoranda from the Military Awards Branch, AHRC, dated 1 May 2008 and 25 June 2009 show...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2015 | 20150001450
The applicant requests correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge) to show a second award of the Bronze Star Medal and any additional awards he may be entitled to. The applicant's complete military records are not available to the Board for review. With respect to a second award of the Bronze Star Medal, both citations provided by the applicant stated the Bronze Star Medal was awarded for heroic achievement on 4 January 1945, when he...