RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-00806
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart
(PH).
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He received lacerations on his arm while trying to exit the
aircraft after it was shot down. He also received numerous
scratches from hiding in thickets and foliage. He was captured
three and a half days later and was beaten and bruised. He was
treated by an unknown individual.
In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of
statements, a listing of individuals, letters, extracts of his
personnel records, and a Prisoner of War (POW) on Washington
article.
The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at
Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant entered the Army Air Corps on 23 Oct 43 and served
honorably until 19 Oct 45. The applicant later served in the
Air Force Reserve.
The applicant has been confirmed as being a POW of the German
Government from 2 Jul 44 to 31 May 45. Further, HQ AFPC/DPSIDRA
confirmed the applicants entitlement to the POW Medal, American
Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal. The applicants
records will be administratively corrected by AFPC to reflect
these awards.
The applicants WD-AGO Form 53-98, Record and Report of
Separation, Certificate of Service, Item 30, Wounds Received in
Action, reflect none.
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.) In
addition, it is necessary that the wound required or received
treatment by medical personnel. Indirect injuries do not meet
the criteria for the award of the PH. These include, but are
not limited to, injuries received while seeking shelter from
mortar or rocket attacks, aircraft bombings, grenades, and
injuries incurred while serving as an aircraft member in a
passenger status as a result of the aircrafts evasive measures
against hostile fire or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
HQ AFPC/DPSIDRA recommends denial. DPSIDRA states no medical
documentation was provided or located within the applicants
official military records verifying he received medical
treatment for an injury caused by a forced bail out or due to
the Hungarian soldiers or German soldiers while a POW.
Further, the PH Review Board denied the applicants request on
4 Jun 10 due to a lack of medical documentation.
The complete HQ AFPC/DPSIDRA evaluation is at Exhibit C.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
He states his records contain documentation confirming his
medical treatment.
The applicant's complete response, with attachments, is at
Exhibit E.
_________________________________________________________________
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. The Board majority finds sufficient relevant evidence has
been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or
injustice. In this regard, the Board majority notes persuasive
medical documentation has been provided indicating a Hungarian
physician treated the applicant and other crew members for
injuries they sustained after their aircraft was shot down.
Therefore, the Board majority recommends the records be
corrected to the extent 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
1 August 1945, he was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries
sustained while held as a Prisoner of War in Germany.
_________________________________________________________________
The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC-
2010-00806 in Executive Session on 12 August 2010, under the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:
, Panel Chair
, Member
, Member
By majority vote, the Board voted to correct the records as
recommended. Ms. Scheiner voted to deny the application and
submitted a minority report, which is at Exhibit F. The
following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 14 Nov 09, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSIDRA, dated 17 Jun 10.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 2 Jul 10.
Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 12 Jul 10.
Exhibit F. Minority Report, dated 22 Oct 10.
Panel Chair
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