RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2006-00002
INDEX CODE: 107.00
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE: 7 JUL 07
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His records be corrected to reflect he was awarded the Bronze Star
Medal (BSM) and the Purple Heart (PH).
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He was awarded the BSM and PH in combat and never received the medals.
Applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is attached at
Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
Applicant’s military records were destroyed in the 1973 fire at the
National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).
The available records reflect the applicant enlisted in the Army of
the United States (AUS) on 20 October 1942.
The WD AGO Form 38, Report of Physical Examination of Enlisted
Personnel Prior to Discharge, Release from Active Duty or Retirement,
Item 10 lists Purple Heart and “No” as the response. Item 11 reflects
the applicant was wounded in action (WIA)-shrapnel wound-right leg-
Germany-March ’45-treated no hosp.
His records further reflect he was awarded the American Theater
Campaign Ribbon, European African Middle Eastern (EAME) Theater Ribbon
with three Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal (GCM), Army Occupational
Ribbon (Germany), Victory Ribbon with two Service Stripes, Three
Overseas Service Bars.
The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-33, Enlisted Record and Report of
Separation Honorable Discharge, Item 34 reflects the applicant did not
receive any wounds while in action.
On 15 November 1946, the applicant was honorably discharged in the
grade of technical sergeant. He served 4 years and 21 days of active
duty service.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
HQ AFPC/DPPPR states for a servicemember to be awarded the PH, they
must provide a detailed personal account, eyewitness statements, and
medical documentation showing the wound received treatment by medical
personnel and occurred as a direct result of enemy action. The
applicant stated he was injured during a combat mission. HQ
AFPC/DPPPR was unable to verify that his injury was a direct result of
enemy action, nor has the applicant provided any medical documentation
to support his request for award of the PH.
HQ AFPC/DPPPR further states for a servicemember to be awarded the
BSM, they must while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of
the United States on or after 7 December 1941, shall have
distinguished themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement or
service. The applicant has not provided any documentation in support
his request for award of the BSM.
HQ AFPC/DPPPR states after a thorough review of the applicant’s
military personnel records, they were unable to locate any evidence of
a recommendation for, or award of the BSM, nor were they any documents
to verify the applicant was wounded as a direct result of enemy
action. Therefore, they recommend the applicant’s request for award
of the BSM and PH be denied.
A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation is attached at Exhibit C.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on
10 March 2006, for review and response. As of this date, no response
has been received by this office.
_________________________________________________________________
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 an error or an injustice. After reviewing and noting
the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of his
request for the BS and PH medals; we agree with the opinion and
recommendation of the Air Force and adopt its rationale as the basis
for our decision that the applicant has failed to provide persuasive
evidence of an injury meeting the criteria for award of the PH or
documentation verifying he was recommended or awarded the BSM.
However, should he provide documentation verifying he was recommended
or awarded the BSM and sustained an injury which meets the criteria
for the PH, the Board would be willing to review the materials for
possible reconsideration. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to
the contrary, 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 AFBCMR Docket Number BC-
2006-00002 in Executive Session on 18 April 2006, under the provisions
of AFI 36-2603:
Mr. John B. Hennessey, Panel Chair
Ms. LeLoy W. Cottrell, Member
Ms. Cathlynn B. Sparks, Member
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 2 Nov 05, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Available Military Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPR, 1 Mar 06.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 Mar 06.
JOHN B. HENNESSEY
Panel Chair
AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-2005-03408
The documentation provided by the applicant and the limited military records of the servicemember do not substantiate he had an injury that met the criteria for award of the PH. Nor has the applicant or the servicemember provided any evidence to substantiate the request for award of the PH, such as an eyewitness statement verifying the cause of the crash. Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 27 Jan 06.
AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-2006-01849
On 6 September 2006, the Board staff forwarded the applicant a corrected copy of the Air Force evaluation for his review and response. The applicant is requesting award of the SM, PH, PLR and PUC. KATHLEEN F. GRAHAM Panel Chair AFBCMR BC-2006-01849 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...
AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-2006-00172
[Note: Pursuant to an inquiry by the AFBCMR Staff, HQ AFPC/DPPPRA advised via 13 Jul 06 email that they had noted the BSM certificate provided by the applicant (Exhibit A) but as they could find no special order or other evidence in the applicant’s file that he received the basic award, they did not recommend his separation documents be administratively corrected to reflect receipt of that decoration.] In response, the applicant provided a handwritten letter with the original BSM...
AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-2006-01988
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2006-01988 INDEX CODE: 107.00 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE: 2 JANUARY 2008 _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: His records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart (PH). A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation is attached at Exhibit...
AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-2005-03788
Furthermore no evidence was found in the limited military records or in the applicant’s submission to verify he was wounded while being held as a POW. We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and the recommendation of the Air Force and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or an injustice. White-Olson, Member The following documentary...
AF | BCMR | CY2007 | BC-2006-02850
_________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: HQ AFPC/DPPPR recommends the applicant’s request for award of the PH be denied. They state the PH is awarded for wounds received as a direct result of enemy action and the wounds must have received treatment by medical personnel. _________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board this application in Executive Session on 21 February 2007, under the...
AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-2006-00216
On 23 February 2006, the Purple Heart Review Board (PHRB) reviewed and denied the applicant’s request for award of the PH. _________________________________________________________________ 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 Medal for injuries sustained as a direct result of enemy action during an aerial combat mission over Weimar, Germany on 24 August...
AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-2005-03309
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2005- 03309 INDEX CODE: 107.00 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE: 1 MAY 2007 ___________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Purple Heart (PH) Medal. To be awarded the PH a member must provide documentation to support his claim that the wound was a direct result of enemy action, and...
AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-2006-00507
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2006-00507 INDEX CODE: 107.00 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE: 20 AUGUST 2007 _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: Her late father’s records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart (PH). The Purple Heart Review Board (PHRB) considered and denied the request for PH. The documentation...
AF | BCMR | CY2006 | BC-2006-01167
DPPPR states 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.) We took notice of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and the recommendation of the Air Force and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the servicemember has not been the victim of an error or an injustice. The...