RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-01833
COUNSEL:
HEARING DESIRED: NO
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His records be corrected to show entitlement to the Purple Heart
(PH) and Prisoner of War (POW) Medal.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He was shot down over Japan and held a POW on the island of
Hokkaido in northern Japan from 1 Jan 45 to 2 Sep 45.
He received shrapnel wounds while on a mission over Tokyo.
He has been classified in a lower priority category by the
Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and is unable to receive
additional benefits.
In support of the request, the applicant provides copies of
personal statements, a letter of support, and extracts from his
master personnel records.
The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at
Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The available records reflect the applicant entered the Army Air
Corps on 27 Nov 44 and was honorably discharged on 6 Jan 46. An
NA Form 13038, Certification of Military Service, issued on
29 Apr 10, reflects he had prior honorable service from 15 Dec
42 to 26 Nov 44.
The applicants records were destroyed in the 1973 fire at the
National Personnel Records Center.
The applicants WD AGO Form 53-55, Military Record and Report of
Separation Certificate of Service, issued in conjunction with
his 6 Jan 46 separation, reflects None for wounds received in
action.
Additional information contained in the records reflects the
applicant was progressively promoted to the grade of first
lieutenant and served as a bombardier with the 436th Bombardment
Squadron, 7th Bombardment Group. Medical records and records of
the applicants enlistment from the period 15 Dec 42 to 26 Nov
44 are unavailable.
The applicant is credited with award of the Air Medal with one
Oak Leaf Cluster, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Ribbon with three
Bronze Service Stars, the World War II Victory Medal, and the
American Theater Campaign Ribbon.
The PH is awarded for wounds received as a direct result of
enemy actions (e.g., gunshot or shrapnel wounds, hand-to-hand
combat wounds, forced aircraft bailout 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 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 aircrew member or in a passenger
status because of the aircrafts evasive measures against
hostile fire.
The POW Medal is awarded to any person who was taken prisoner or
held captive while engaged in an action against an enemy of the
United States while engaged in military operations involving
conflict with an opposing armed force; or while serving with
friendly forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing
armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent
party.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
HQ AFPC/DPWC recommends denial for the award of the POW Medal.
DPWC states they were unable to confirm he was a POW.
The complete HQ AFPC/DPWC evaluation is at Exhibit C.
HQ AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the POW Medal and PH.
DPSIDR states no official documentation was located or provided
to verify the applicants claims.
The complete HQ AFPC/DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit D.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the
applicant and counsel on 23 Dec 10 for review and comment within
30 days (Exhibit D). As of this date, this office has not
received a response.
_________________________________________________________________
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. We took notice
of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of
the case; however, we agree with the opinions and
recommendations of the Air Force offices of primary
responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis for our
conclusion the applicant has not been the victim of an error or
injustice. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the
contrary, we find no 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 Docket Number
BC-2010-01833 in Executive Session on 17 March 2011, under the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:
, Panel Chair
, Member
, Member
The following documentary evidence was considered for AFBCMR
Docket Number BC-2010-01833:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 3 May 10, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPWC, dated 16 Nov 10.
Exhibit D. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 17 Dec 10.
Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 23 Dec 10.
Panel Chair
AF | BCMR | CY2010 | BC-2010-02213
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-02213 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1. In contrast, interned is defined as the casualty is definitely known to have been taken into custody of a non belligerent foreign power as a result of and for reasons arising out of any armed conflict in which the Armed Forces of the United...
AF | BCMR | CY2011 | BC-2011-01640
AR 600-45.C4 permits award of the PH for frostbite for personnel actually engaged in combat. PL 104-106, dated 10 Feb 96, entitled former POWs to receive a PH for wounds suffered as a POW. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT, be corrected to show that he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal, for wounds received as a direct result of enemy action...
AF | BCMR | CY2011 | BC-2011-01670
The applicant received frostbite injuries in January 1945 while a POW; however, frostbite is not normally an injury which qualifies a member for entitlement to the PH. In this respect, we note Army Regulation 600-45, provides that the PH Medal may be awarded to members who are wounded in action against an enemy of the United States, and defined a wound as an injury to any part of the body from an outside force, element, or agent sustained as a result of a hostile act of the enemy. Exhibit...
AF | BCMR | CY2010 | BC-2010-03600
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-03600 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO _________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: He be awarded the Prisoner of War (POW) Medal and his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be corrected to reflect the POW Medal. The applicants complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. If he had POW...
AF | BCMR | CY2010 | BC-2010-001152
The PH is awarded for wounds received as a direct result of enemy actions (e.g., gunshot or shrapnel wounds, hand-to-hand combat wounds, forced aircraft bailout injuries, etc.). _________________________________________________________________ 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 September 1945, he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds incurred on a forced march while being held...
AF | BCMR | CY2010 | BC-2010-00807
_________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: The Purple Heart Review Board (PHRB) denied her request for award of the PH to her late husband. The PH is awarded for wounds received as a direct result of enemy actions (e.g., gunshot or shrapnel wounds, hand-to-hand combat wounds, forced aircraft bailout injuries, etc.). _________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: The applicant be notified that the...
AF | BCMR | CY2010 | BC-2010-03383
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-03383 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1) His records be corrected to reflect he was awarded the Purple Heart (PH) Medal. There is also no record of the applicant being a POW at the U. S. National Archives and Records Administration. After a thorough review of the available evidence and...
AF | BCMR | CY2014 | BC 2014 01321
While the applicant has provided a detailed account of how the injury occurred, he has not provided an eyewitness statement or medical documentation substantiating the injury was received and treated. In order to present a request to the PH Review Board, a detailed personal account of the circumstances surrounding the injury, medical documentation to substantiate medical treatment was received and if possible, an eyewitness account from an individual who saw the applicant injured. THE...
AF | BCMR | CY2011 | BC-2011-00025
_________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: On 25 Mar 11, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant for review and comment within 30 days. To date, a response has not been received (Exhibit C). _________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC-2011-00025 in Executive Session on 9 Jun 11, under the provisions of AFI...
AF | BCMR | CY2004 | BC-2004-00937
_________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: HQ AFPC/DPPPR advises that, to be awarded the PH, a member must provide detailed evidence/documentation to support he was wounded as a direct result of enemy action and received treatment by medical personnel. By the time he was liberated from the POW camp nine months later, his wounds had healed and no further treatment was necessary. Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 13 Jun 04, w/atchs.