RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-01996
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His deceased fathers records be corrected to reflect he was
awarded the Purple Heart (PH) Medal and the Bronze Star Medal
(BSM).
________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He believes that his deceased father was awarded the PH Medal
and BSM while serving during World War II.
The applicants complete submission, with attachments, is at
Exhibit A.
________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicants military personnel records were apparently
located in the area most heavily damaged in the fire at the
National Personnel Records Center in 1973.
According to documents provided by the applicant, his late
father commenced his active service in the Army Air Corps on
1 Aug 42. On 18 Oct 43, he arrived in the European theater of
operations where he served as an ammunition supply officer
through 12 Mar 45, when he returned to the continental United
States (CONUS).
On 6 Oct 45, the deceased former member was honorably discharged
for physical disability from De Witt General Hospital,
Auburn, CA.
In accordance with Army Regulation (AR) 600-45, Decorations,
dated 22 Sep 43, during the period in question, the PH was
awarded for wounds received in action against an enemy of the
United States, or as a direct result of an act of such enemy,
provided such wound necessitated treatment by a medical officer.
For the purpose of awarding the PH, a wound was defined as an
injury to any part of the body from an outside force, element,
or agent, sustained as the result of a hostile act of the enemy,
or while in action in the face of the enemy. When a person
eligible for award of the PH was treated for a wound, the
commanding officer of the hospital, or the medical officer who
treated the wound, furnished the commanding officer of the
wounded person a certificate briefly describing the nature of
the wound and certifying the necessity of treatment.
The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to a person in any branch of
the military service who, while serving in any capacity with the
Armed Forces of the United States on or after 7 December 1941,
shall have distinguished himself or herself by heroic or
meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation
in aerial flight; while engaged in an action against an enemy of
the United States; while engaged in military operations
involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while
serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed
conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United
States is not a belligerent party.
________________________________________________________________
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. After
careful consideration of applicant's request and the available
evidence of record, we do not find the documentation presented
sufficient to conclude that corrective action is warranted.
While the applicant has presented a newspaper article which
appears to indicate the deceased former member was awarded the
Purple Heart (PH) and the Bronze Star Medal (BSM), we do not
find the article, in and of itself, sufficient to compel us to
recommend the record be corrected to reflect the deceased former
member was awarded the PH or the BSM. Moreover, we do not find
this uncorroborated, unofficial evidence sufficient to overcome
the Report of Separation, issued in conjunction with the
deceased former members 6 October 1945 separation, which
reflects there were no wounds received in action. While the
limited records before us indicate the applicant was discharged
for physical disability after a period of convalescence
described in the newspaper article provided by the applicant,
the evidence before us is not sufficient to conclude that the
condition for which the deceased former member was discharged
was the result of action by the enemy or incurred while in
action against the enemy in accordance with the criteria for the
PH Medal in effect during the matter under review. Therefore,
in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to
recommend granting the requested relief.
________________________________________________________________
THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:
The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not
demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the
application was denied without a personal appearance; and 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-2012-01996 in Executive Session on 7 Mar 13, under the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:
Panel Chair
Member
Member
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 12 Mar 12, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Decedents Available Personnel Records.
Panel Chair
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