| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Beverly A. Young | Analyst |
| Mr. John N. Slone | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Ronald E. Blakely | Member | |
| Mr. Lester Echols | Member |
2. The applicant requests correction of item 33 (Decorations and Citations) on his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to show award of the Purple Heart and the Combat Medical Badge.
3. The applicant states that his WD AGO Form 53-55 should show the Purple Heart and the Combat Medical Badge for injuries he sustained during combat in Normandy. He contends that he received these injuries while removing a wounded soldier from wire entanglement. He further contends that he laid on the wire while his buddy helped to move the wounded soldier over his body and they took the wounded soldier to medics. In support of his application, he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 and two VA Form 21-4142 (Authorization and Consent to Release Information to the Department of Veterans Affairs).
4. The applicant’s military records were destroyed or lost in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973. Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show that he was inducted in the Army on 28 April 1942. He completed training as a pharmacist and served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 30 June 1944 to 27 November 1945. The applicant was honorably discharged from active duty on 22 December 1945.
5. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the Purple Heart or the Combat Medical Badge as authorized awards. The Board noted that the applicant is entitled to the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with three bronze service stars and the Meritorious Unit Commendation which are also not shown on his discharge document.
6. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show any entry in
item 34 (Wounds Received in Action). There is no evidence available to the Board that shows the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart. There also are no medical records available to the Board which show he was wounded or treated for wounds as a result of hostile action.
7. The applicant’s discharge document shows he served as a pharmacist and was assigned to the Medical Detachment, 707th Military Police Battalion. There is no evidence that he served in a medical unit organic to an infantry brigade.
8. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he received credit for participation in the Normandy, Northern France, and Rhineland campaigns in item 32 (Battles and Campaigns).
9. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows, among other information, unit awards authorized for units which served during World War II. This document shows the unit to which the applicant was assigned, the 707th Military Police Battalion, was cited for award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation for actions during the period 1 May-31 October 1944 by General Orders
Number 34, dated 17 March 1945.
10. 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, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.
11. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Medical Badge is awarded to medical department personnel (colonel and below) who are assigned or attached to a medical unit of company or smaller size that is organic to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental or smaller size which is engaged in active ground combat. Battle participation credit is not sufficient; the infantry unit must have been in contact with the enemy.
12. Army Regulation 600-8-22 authorizes a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation, or in item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of the WD AGO Form 53-55. The regulation also states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate campaign or service medal including the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The Board considered the applicant’s contention that he received injuries during combat in Normandy; however, there is no evidence available to the Board which shows he was awarded the Purple Heart or that he was wounded or treated for wounds as a result of hostile action. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence upon which to base award of the Purple Heart.
2. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was assigned as a pharmacist in a Medical Detachment of the 707th Military Police Battalion, not a medical unit organic to an infantry brigade. Therefore, there is no basis for correcting item 33 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show award of the Combat Medical Badge.
3. Evidence of record shows that the applicant received credit for participation in three campaigns while assigned in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show three bronze service stars to be affixed to his European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal.
4. While assigned to the 707th Military Police Battalion, the unit was cited for award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation; therefore, he is entitled to award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation and correction of his records to show this unit award.
5. In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. That all of the Department of the Army records related to the individual concerned be corrected:
a. by deleting the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal from item 33 of his WD AGO Form 53-55; and
b. by showing he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with three bronze service stars and the Meritorious Unit Commendation.
2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
JNS____ LE______ REB_____ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
John N. Slone_________
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2001057126 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20010925 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | YYYYMMDD |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT IN PART |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0015 |
| 2. | 107.0113 |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002071348C070402
The applicant requests correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to show award of the bronze arrowhead to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and award of the Purple Heart. There are no orders in the available records which show that the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart. Evidence of record available to the Board shows that, while the applicant was assigned to the 392nd Medical Collecting Company, the unit received credit...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090017562
The applicant requests that the records of her late husband, a former service member (FSM), be corrected to show award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM), Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, bronze arrowhead device, Parachutist Badge with two battle jump stars (correctly known as bronze service stars), and Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). The applicant states the FSM participated in the Normandy, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe campaigns and is entitled to the BSM, Purple Heart,...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002074020C070403
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. There is no evidence in the records available to the Board which shows that the applicant was recommended for or awarded the Bronze Star Medal. There is no evidence the applicant was recommended for or awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 2004103785C070208
The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, Honorable Discharge, with an effective date of 21 December 1945 shows, in Item 33 (Decorations and Citations), that he was awarded the Purple Heart; the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; the Good Conduct Medal; the World War II Victory Medal, and a bronze service arrowhead [correctly known as a...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100007794
The applicant requests correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge) to show award of the Purple Heart. Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was wounded in the EAMETO on 25 November 1944. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. deleting from item 33 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 the "EAMETO MED, DIST UNIT BADGE, and the BRONZE...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130011858
The applicant requests the records of her late father, a former service member (FSM) be corrected to show his award of the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) shows that while the FSM was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 115th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, it was credited with participation in three campaigns: Normandy, Northern France and the Rhineland; was awarded a Distinguished...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130021791
The applicant requests the WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Service) of his deceased uncle, a former service member (FSM), be corrected to show: * A bronze arrowhead and three additional bronze service stars to be affixed to his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal * Presidential Unit Citation 2. Based on award of this badge, he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal and correction of his records to show it. As a result, the Board...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050003743C070206
Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action), of the applicant's WD AGO Form 53- 55, shows the entry, "None." As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. deleting the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal from the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55; b. awarding the applicant one silver service star to be affixed to his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, to correctly denote his campaign participation credit...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080010775
The applicant requests, in effect, correction of his Enlisted Records and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge (WD AGO Form 53-55) to show his unit as Battery C, 397th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (397th AAA Bn); and that he was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, and five bronze service stars on his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. The applicant's military records are not available to the Board for review. The applicants WD AGO...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120001430
The applicant's military records are not available to the Board for review. Regrettably, absent evidence which conclusively shows he sustained wounds or injuries as a result of hostile action, that he was treated by medical personnel for those wounds or injuries, and that this treatment was made a matter of official record, there is insufficient basis for awarding the Purple Heart to the applicant in this case. Therefore, the Board requests that the ARBA CMD administratively correct the...