2. The applicant requests correction of his records to reflect that he was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries suffered in World War II.
3. He states that he injured his shoulder during an enemy air attack while in New Guinea in December 1944 and believes that he should be awarded a Purple Heart for this injury.
4. His military records show that he was inducted on 20 January 1943 and served 1 year, 8 months and 28 days in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations. He was honorably discharged on 29 July 1945.
5. His awards include the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and the Marksman Badge with rifle bar.
6. The applicants medical records reflect that on 13 December 1944, he was treated for a dislocated right shoulder which occurred when he slipped while running for a foxhole during an enemy air raid on 26 November 1944.
7. Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as the result of hostile action. Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify that the wound was the result of hostile action, the wound must have required treatment by a medical officer, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record. When contemplating award of this decoration, the key issue that must be taken into consideration is the degree to which the enemy caused the injury. The fact that the proposed recipient was participating in direct or indirect combat operations is a necessary prerequisite, but is not the sole justification for the award.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The evidence of record shows that the applicant was a combat casualty resulting from an injury suffered during an enemy air raid. Evidence of the injury and the circumstances under which it occurred were properly documented in the record and leave no doubt as to the propriety of the award.
2. In view of the foregoing, the applicants records should be corrected as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained on 26 November 1944 as the result of hostile enemy action in New Guinea.
BOARD VOTE:
GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
GRANT FORMAL HEARING
DENY APPLICATION
CHAIRPERSON
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The applicant requests that her father, a former service member (FSM), be awarded the Purple Heart and that she receive an explanation of her fathers injuries. The FSM's military records are not available for review. While the applicant has provided sufficient evidence to show the FSM was in fact injured on 15 May 1944, she has failed to show through the evidence of record and the evidence submitted with her application that his injury was the result of enemy action.
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He also states that at the time of his injury, the Purple Heart was not given because of friendly fire. There is no evidence in the applicant's available service or medical records which conclusively shows he suffered a wound/injury from hostile action, friendly fire, or that he was treated for such injury. Regrettably, absent evidence which conclusively shows that the applicant sustained wounds or injuries as a result of hostile action or friendly fire in the heat of battle, that he was...
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The applicant provides his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation), Honorable Discharge Certificate, brief account of his military service, a letter from an American Legion Representative, letter written by the applicant, and two newspaper articles. There are no documents in the available record confirming he was wounded in action or awarded the Purple Heart while serving on active duty. This form does not indicate the applicant was wounded or hospitalized but it does...
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 16 August 2005 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20040006583 I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual. This medical record shows the following entries under "Diagnosis": “Contusion, right lip, mild, a.i. These records also show that the medical authorities who treated the applicant at that time determined that...
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