RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-05033 

 

 COUNSEL: 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His official records be corrected to show he was awarded the 
following: 

 

1. The Purple Heart Medal (PH). 

 

2. The Good Conduct Medal (GCM). 

 

3. The American Campaign Medal (ACM). (Administratively 
corrected) 

 

4. The World War II Victory Medal (WWIIVM). (Administratively 
corrected) 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He was injured on 8 Apr 44, while serving as a top turret gunner 
on a B-24 during a bombing mission over Brunswick, Germany. 
During the mission, an enemy shell blew a basketball size hole 
in his plexiglass turret, cutting the left side of his face and 
head. Upon returning from the mission, his injuries were 
treated and we was told by the Bomb Group Commander he was being 
considered for the Purple Heart. 

 

He served honorably from 9 Nov 42 to 20 Sep 45, but was not 
awarded the GCM due to administrative oversight. His service 
meets the criteria at the time of one year of service for award 
of the GCM, as established by Executive Order 10444, dated 
10 Apr 53. 

 

In support of his appeal, the applicant provides copies of his 
WD AGO Form 53-55, Army of the United States Honorable Discharge 
Certificate, Executive Order 10444, Executive Order 9323, 
excerpts from DoDM 1348.33-V3, Manual of Military Decorations 
and Awards: General Information, Medal of Honor, and 
Defense/Joint Decorations and Awards, and military photos. 

 

 


The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit A. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant enlisted in the Army Air Corps on 9 Nov 42. 

 

His official records contain the following: 

 

“Mar 31, 1945 Sol(dier) is favorably considered for Good Conduct 
Medal, LAAF, Laredo, Texas.” The entry was verified and 
initialed by “WCC,” on the line for “Officer’s Initials.” 

 

His WD AGO Form 38, Report of Physical Examination of Enlisted 
Personnel Prior to Discharge, Release from Active Duty or 
Retirement, dated 19 Sep 45, indicates a sprained ankle as the 
only significant disease, wound, or injury incurred. Under 
Block 43, Remarks, special tests, or other defects, “None” is 
entered. 

 

He was honorably discharged on 20 Sep 45 and was credited with 
2 years, 10 months, and 12 days of total active service. 

 

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
described in the letter prepared by the Air Force office of 
primary responsibility which is included at Exhibit C. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSIDRA recommends denial of the PH Medal and GCM, 
indicating there is no evidence of an error or injustice. The 
PH is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who have been 
wounded killed or who have died or may hereafter die of wounds 
received in action against an enemy of the U.S. or opposing 
force as a result of an act of any such enemy or opposing armed 
force, an international terrorist attack or during military 
operations while serving as a part of a peacekeeping force. A 
wound for which the award is made must have required treatment, 
not merely examination by a medical officer. There is no 
official documentation in the applicant’s record verifying he 
received an injury. Item 34, Wounds Received in Action, on the 
applicant’s WD AGO 53-55, contains the entry “None.” Further, 
medical documentation verifying the applicant received a wound 
as a direct result of enemy action requiring medical treatment, 
and eyewitness statement(s) to help support the applicant’s 
claim were not provided. 

 

The GCM is awarded to enlisted Service members who have 
honorably completed three continuous years of active military 
service subsequent to 26 Aug 40, and who are recommended by 
their commanding officers for exemplary behavior, efficiency, 


and fidelity throughout the qualifying period, including time 
spent in attendance at service schools, and there must have been 
no convictions by court martial. During wartime the GCM may be 
awarded on completion of one year of continuous service rather 
than three. The supporting documentation provided does not 
indicate that he was recommended for or awarded the GCM while on 
active duty. 

 

A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSIDRA evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

Counsel reiterates that after receiving treatment for his 
injury, the applicant’s Group Commander told him he would be put 
in for the PH Medal. They are searching for additional 
information, however, due the passage of time, this has become a 
difficult task. With respect to the GCM, he submits 
documentation from the applicant’s records indicating he was 
favorably considered for the Good Conduct Medal on 31 Mar 45, as 
well as two WD AGO Form 24-2s, dated 9 May 45 and 27 Aug 44, 
which reflect the applicant’s character and efficiency rating as 
a soldier as “Excellent.” In addition, the fact the applicant’s 
was awarded Distinguished Flying Cross with three Bronze Stars, 
and Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters is evidence of his 
quality of service (Exhibit E). 

 

In a subsequent submission, Counsel also provides additional 
documentation concerning the applicant’s request for award of 
the PH Medal. He reiterates the story of how the head injury 
occurred, and submits information about the applicant’s 
Department of Veterans Affairs compensable rating of 10 percent 
for a service connected disability, based in part on a “flack 
injury to L/side of forehead (4th Mission) 1944.” (Exhibit F) 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

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 injustice concerning 
the applicant’s request for the Purple Heart (PH) Medal. We 
took notice of the applicant’s complete submission, to include 
his responses to the Air Force advisory, in judging the merits 
of the case; however, we agree with the opinion and 
recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility 
(OPR) and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion 


the applicant has not been the victim of an error of injustice 
concerning the PH Medal. While Counsel argues the Department of 
Veterans Affairs (DVA) determination to award the applicant 
disability benefits is evidence of his entitlement to the PH 
Medal, we do not find the documentation provided sufficient to 
conclude the applicant’s unspecified service connected 
disabilities were incurred as the result of enemy action. 
Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find 
no basis to recommend granting the request for the award of the 
PH. Notwithstanding the above, sufficient relevant evidence has 
been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or 
injustice concerning award of the Good Conduct Medal (GCM). We 
note the comments of AFPC/DPSIDRA stating they could not verify 
the applicant was recommended for or awarded the GCM; however, 
we believe the documentation in his official record indicating 
that on 31 Mar 45 he was favorably considered for the Good 
Conduct Medal, the documentation attesting to his excellent 
character, his numerous awards and decorations, and his 
honorable discharge collectively provide a sufficient basis for 
us to recommend the award of the GCM. Therefore, we recommend 
his records be corrected as indicated below. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: 

 

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air 
Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that on 
20 September 1945 he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2011-05033 in Executive Session on 7 Aug 12, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 

 


All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The 
following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number 
BC-2011-05033 was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Forms 149, dated 16 Dec 11, 6 Jan 12, 

 19 Jan 12, and 19 Jan 12, with atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDRA, dated 27 Mar 12. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 30 Mar 12. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, Counsel, dated 5 Apr 12, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit F. Letter, Counsel, dated 5 May 12, w/atchs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair