APPLICANT REQUESTS: That he be awarded the Purple Heart for injuries received in World War II.
APPLICANT STATES: That, in effect, he was wounded as a result of enemy action in both North Africa and Italy and should receive the Purple Heart for these wounds.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973. Information herein was obtained from reconstructed records.
He was inducted on 23 September 1942 and served 2 years, 5 months and 1 day in the North African-Mediterranean-European Theaters of Operation. He was honorably discharged on 7 October 1945.
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. Medical records show, however, that he was treated for injuries sustained on 29 May 1943 in Oran, North Africa when his truck ran off the side of a hill. The record indicates that his injuries were incurred accidentally and were not attributed to enemy action. Hospital admission records also show that he was treated for Malaria in January and March 1945.
Army Regulation 600-8-22 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. While the record shows that the applicant sustained injuries in World War II, it does not show that these injuries were the result of enemy action.
2. Based on the available records, there is no evidence that he suffered a combat related injury that would qualify him for award of the Purple Heart.
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
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Except for partial service medical records, the applicant official military personnel records were apparently lost or destroyed during the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. His separation physical examination notes the treatment of the burns sustained in December 1943 but makes no mention of any other wounds or injuries and does not record any scars which could have been attributed to multiple shrapnel wounds. That all of the Department of the Army records...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 20040010548C070208
The applicant’s military records are not available to the Board for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members’ records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. The available evidence of record does establish that the applicant was treated for a bullet wound to the arm.
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The applicant's complete military records are not available for review. There is no evidence in his reconstructed record that shows he was awarded the Purple Heart. Notwithstanding the applicant's sincerity, in the absence of documentation that conclusively shows he was wounded as a result of enemy action, there is an insufficient evidentiary basis for granting the requested relief.
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There were no available military medical treatment records on file or provided by the applicant. There are no orders in the applicants military service record that show he was awarded the Purple Heart. There are no orders in the applicants available military service record that shows he was awarded the Purple Heart.
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In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice. The applicant requests...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110012517
She also requests, in effect, correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) to show the Combat Infantryman Badge. The FSM's complete military records are not available to the Board for review. His WD AGO Form 24 does not show any combat wounds or awards of the Purple Heart or the Combat Infantryman Badge.
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Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). The applicants military records are not available to the Board for review. There is no evidence of record which shows the applicant was diagnosed with severe frostbite.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 03095774C070212
He was discharged on 29 July 1945. However, in view of the fact that the board was not established until 2 January 1947 the applicant’s 3 year period in which to file an application for correction of military records expired on 2 January 1950, 3 years from the date the Board was established. Evidence shows that the applicant’s records contain administrative error which does not require action by the Board.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003089885C070403
The applicant’s military records were not available to the Board for review. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart (PH) is awarded for a wound sustained as a result of hostile action. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the individual concerned the Bronze Star Medal with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, for his exemplary conduct in ground combat during World War II; by showing that he is...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090004039
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). The applicants military records are not available to the Board for review. _________XXX____________ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.