RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2014-01873
COUNSEL: NONE
HEARING DESIRED: NO
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
He be awarded the Purple Heart (PH) Medal.
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
His non-wound honorable discharge should be changed to reflect
he was wounded. This would enable him to receive benefits and
treatment given to PH veterans. On 12 June 1944, the Japanese
dropped bombs on his temporary camp and during this raid his
knee was wounded.
The applicants complete submission, with attachment, is at
Exhibit A.
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant entered the Army Air Force on 5 October 1942.
On 16 November 1945, the applicant was furnished an honorable
discharge, and was credited with 3 years, 1 month, and 11 days
of active service.
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPSID recommends denial. DPSID states there is no evidence
of an error or an injustice. The applicants official military
personnel record contains very limited documentation. It
appears the applicants official military personnel record was
heavily damaged in the fire at the National Personnel Records
Center in 1973.
The PH is awarded to members of the United States 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 United
States 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. Additionally, treatment of the wound shall be
documented in the service members medical and/or health record.
Award of the Purple Heart may be made for wounds treated by a
medical professional other than a medical officer, provided a
medical officer includes a statement in the service members
medical record that the extent of the wounds were such that they
would have required treatment by a medical officer if one had
been available to treat them.
After a thorough review of the applicants limited official
military personnel record, DPSID was unable to verify award of
the PH. DPSID was also unable to locate a signed certificate,
special order or any other official documentation, nor was any
provided, verifying the applicant was recommended for or awarded
the PH.
The applicants request was not submitted to the Purple Heart
Review Board as it lacks the medical documentation
substantiating medical treatment was received, and eyewitness
statements. Therefore, to grant relief would be contrary to the
criteria established by DoDM 1348.33, Secretary of the Air
Force, Chief of Staff, and/or the War Department.
A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C.
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the
applicant on 6 January 2015 for review and comment within
30 days (Exhibit D). 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 error or injustice. The
applicants contentions are duly noted; however, after reviewing
the evidence of record we agree with the opinion and
recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility
and adopt its rationale as the basis for our conclusion the
applicant has not provided sufficient evidence that validates
his entitlement to the PH medal. Therefore, we find no basis to
recommend granting the relief sought in this application.
THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:
The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not
demonstrate the existence of an 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-2014-01873 in Executive Session on 12 March 2015,
under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 28 April 2014, w/atch.
Exhibit B. Applicants Available Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 24 November 2014.
Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 January 2015.
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