RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2006-02850
INDEX CODE: 107.00
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE: 24 MARCH 2008
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His records be corrected to reflect he was awarded the Purple Heart
(PH).
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He received the PH medal at Hensley Air Force Base (AFB), Dallas,
Texas.
Applicant's complete submission is attached at Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The servicemember’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) 8 February 1943.
On 10 November 1945, the applicant was honorably discharged from
active duty in the grade of technical sergeant (TSgt).
Block 24 on the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55, Record and Report of
Separation reflects that applicant did not receive any wounds in
action.
The applicant stated in a Veterans Administration (VA) Prisoner of War
(POW) examination that on his seventh mission he was shot down and
taken as a POW from 3 June 1944 to 12 July 1945.
_________________________________________________________________
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.
AFPC/DPPPR further states there was no official documentation in the
applicant’s reconstructed records to support his request for the PH.
The applicant has not provided any documentation to substantiate his
request. Furthermore, VA medical records are not a source document
for award of the PH.
A complete copy of the AFPC/DPPPR 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 5
January 2007, 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. 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. The
documentation provided by the applicant and his military records do
not substantiate he had an injury that met the criteria for award of
the PH. While we are not unmindful or unappreciative of the
applicant’s service to his Nation, in the absence of evidence
substantiating the servicemember 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 this application in Executive
Session on 21 February 2007, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
Mr. Michael J. Novel, Panel Chair
Mr. Reginald P. Howard, Member
Ms. Barbara R. Murray, Member
The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number
BC-2006-02850 was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 14 Sep 06.
Exhibit B. Available Military Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPR, 19 Dec 06.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 5 Jan 07.
MICHAEL J. NOVEL
Panel Chair
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