APPLICANT REQUESTS: That his record be corrected to reflect that he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in World War II.
APPLICANT STATES: That he was wounded as a result of enemy action on Luzon, Philippines on 13 April 1945. In support of his request, he provides a copy of a telegram sent to his next of kin advising that he had been injured.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973. The information herein was obtained from reconstructed records.
He was inducted on 13 June 1944 and served 1 year and 7 days in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations and Japan. He was honorably discharged upon demobilization on 15 January 1946.
His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan clasp, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon.
The applicants WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, reflects the entry none in the block entitled wounds received in action. The form does not show that he was awarded the Purple Heart.
The telegram advising the applicants next of kin that he had been injured states that he was slightly injured on Luzon on 13 April 1945. It does not elaborate on the circumstances of the injury or imply that the injuries were the result of hostile action.
Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as a 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.
DISCUSSION: Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:
1. Based upon the available information, there is no evidence to show that the injuries he sustained were the result of hostile action or would otherwise qualify him for award of the Purple Heart.
2. In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust. The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy this requirement.
3. In view of the foregoing, there appears to be no basis for granting the applicants request.
DETERMINATION: The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.
BOARD VOTE:
GRANT
GRANT FORMAL HEARING
DENY APPLICATION
Karl F. Schneider
Acting Director
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 040004569C070208
There is no conclusive evidence to show that the applicant was wounded in action. Consequently, the applicant’s records should be corrected to show that he was wounded in action on Cebu on 2 May 1945. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by showing that he was wounded in action on Cebu Island in the Philippines on 2 May 1945, by award of the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002079107C070215
The applicant requests, as the brother of a deceased former service member (FSM), that his late brother's military records be corrected to show award of the Philippine Defense Medal in lieu of the Philippine Liberation Medal. The Board considered the applicant's request that the FSM be awarded the Philippine Defense Medal in lieu of the Philippine Liberation Medal. Evidence of record shows the FSM was a prisoner of war.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090014052
The FSM's military service records are not available to the Board for review. There is no evidence in the available military service records that shows the FSM was awarded the Purple Heart. There is no evidence in the FSM's available military service records that shows he was wounded while in action or as a result of enemy action.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070001051
The applicant requests that his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) be corrected to show award of the Purple Heart. The applicant's military records are not available for review. The applicant requests that his WD AGO Form 53-55 be corrected to show the award of the Purple Heart.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 03094250C070212
The applicant requests that her deceased husband, a former service member (FSM) be awarded the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War (POW) Medal. The applicant's DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) does not show award of the Purple Heart or the POW Medal. Counsel requests award of the Purple Heart and the POW Medal for the FSM.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 2004106971C070208
The applicant’s military records are not available to the Board for review. His report of separation shows that he entered on active duty on 12 August 1943 and served in the 147th Field Artillery Battalion (158th Regimental Combat Team) in the Asiatic Pacific Theater during World War II beginning in March 1944, and returning to the United States in February 1946. Consequently, his request for award of the Purple Heart cannot be granted.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130010144
The evidence of record shows the FSM was wounded in battle in Luzon on or around 26 May 1945. His unit was awarded occupation credit for service in Japan; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to add the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. deleting from his WD AGO Form 53-55 the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; b. awarding him the: *...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080005768
Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action), of the WD AGO Form 53-55, shows the entry "None" to indicate the applicant was not wounded while he served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. There are no orders or evidence in the applicants available records that show he was awarded the Purple Heart. There is no evidence of record, and the applicant has provided insufficient evidence, which shows that he was awarded the Purple Heart or that he was wounded or treated for wounds as a result of hostile...
ARMY | BCMR | CY1996 | 9607966C070209
APPLICANT REQUESTS: That his WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, be corrected to reflect that he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in World War II. Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as a result of hostile action. DISCUSSION: Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001062344C070421
Contrary to the newspaper article provided by the applicant which states the applicant was wounded on 9 March 1945, evidence of record shows the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action on 8 March 1945 in the Asiatic Pacific Theater of Operations. The applicant was a member of the 43d Infantry Division when it was cited for award of the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this foreign unit award. The...