| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Wanda L. Waller | Analyst |
| Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Christopher J. Prosser | Member | |
| Ms. Linda D. Simmons | Member |
2. The applicant requests correction of his discharge document to show award of the Purple Heart.
3. The applicant states that he was wounded at Anzio in 1944. He contends that he received the Purple Heart medal while he was in the hospital; however, this award is not shown on his discharge document. In support of his application, he submits a copy of his Enlisted Record; his Honorable Discharge; General Orders Number 53, dated 29 June 1944; VA documentation; and a photograph of a Combat Infantryman Badge and Purple Heart medal.
4. The applicant’s military records were destroyed or lost during the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973. Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show that the applicant was inducted on
12 December 1942. He served as a rifleman in the European Theater of Operations from 23 September 1943 through 16 August 1944 and was honorably discharged on 9 November 1944 in the rank of private first class.
5. The applicant’s Enlisted Record, which was authenticated in his own hand, does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award. The section “Wounds received in service” states “None”.
6. There is no evidence in the available records that shows the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart or was wounded as a result of hostile action.
7. The Office of the Surgeon General Hospital List shows the applicant was hospitalized in February 1944 for shoulder wounds sustained as a result of hostile action in Italy. This list also shows that the applicant was hospitalized on 16 March 1944 for thigh wounds sustained as a result of hostile action in the “European Area”.
8. 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, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record. The bronze oak leaf cluster is awarded to denote the second and succeeding awards of certain decorations, among which is the Purple Heart.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. Medical evidence of record shows the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action in February 1944 and on 16 March 1944 in the European Theater of Operations. Therefore, the applicant is entitled to award of the Purple Heart (First Oak Leaf Cluster) and correction of his military records to reflect the dates of his two wounds received in action.
2. In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s 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 that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart (First Oak Leaf Cluster) for wounds received in action in February 1944 and on
16 March 1944 in the European Theater of Operations.
BOARD VOTE:
RVO___ CJP_____ LDS_____ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
_Raymond V. O’Connor___
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2001058162 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20010830 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | (GRANT PLUS) |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0015 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002078174C070215
The applicant requests, in effect, correction of his WD AGO Form 53-98 (Military Record and Report of Separation) to show four awards of the Purple Heart (correctly known as the Purple Heart with Third Oak Leaf Cluster) and two awards of the Bronze Star Medal (Bronze Star Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster). However, in the absence of orders or other evidence of record showing the applicant was wounded or treated for wounds as a result of hostile action on 14 August 1944, the Board...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060005557C070205
The applicant’s military records are not available to the Board for review. The medical evidence of record and the Western Union telegram which show the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action on 29 August 1944 are accepted as sufficient evidence on which to award a second award of the Purple Heart and amend his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show award of the Purple Heart with First Oak Leaf Cluster in this case. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060012882
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 3 April 2007 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20060012882 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. The applicant requests that his WD AGO 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) be corrected to show a second award of the Purple Heart (in effect, a Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster), and...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003087140C070212
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. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 also shows the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment was cited for award of the Netherlands Orange Lanyard for the period 17 September to 28 November 1944; the French Croix de Guerre for the period 6 to 8 June 1944; and the Belgian Fourragere for action on 6 June 1944 based on...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060015259
There is no evidence in the available records which shows the applicant was wounded a second time as a result of hostile action. Item 11 (List all significant diseases, wounds, and injuries) on the applicants WD AGO Form 38 (Report of Physical Examination of Enlisted Personnel Prior to Discharge, Release from Active Duty or Retirement), dated 25 September 1945, shows he was hospitalized in England in February 1944 for trouble with right knee. This medical record also shows the applicant...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110018725
His WD AGO Form 53-55 further shows in: * item 6 (Organization) the entry "Co G, 22nd Infantry, 4th Division" * item 31 (Military Qualification and Date) the entry "Combat Infantryman Badge 1 November 1944" * item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) the: * Campaign of Normandy * Campaign of Belgium * Campaign of Germany * item 33 (Decorations and Citations) the: * Three Bronze Battle Stars * Army Good Conduct Medal * Purple Heart with One Oak Leaf Cluster * European Theater of Operations...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001064421C070421
The applicant requests that his separation document (WD AGO 53-55) reflect that he was wounded in action, twice. Information herein was obtained from the Department of the Army, the Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG) Hospital Admission Cards, SGO Hospitalization Files and documentation submitted by the applicant. Therefore, the applicant is entitled to award of the Purple Heart (First Oak Leaf Cluster) and correction of his records to show these awards and to show his wounds.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002069245C070402
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. There is no other evidence...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002067648C070402
APPLICANT STATES : That these awards were never listed in his records. The applicant was awarded one award of the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in June 1944 and the French Croix de Guerre by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) of Docket Number AC98-09802 on 4 November 1998. Evidence available to the Board shows the applicant was wounded in June 1944 as a result of hostile action and was awarded the Purple Heart.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002070674C070402
The applicant requests correction of his WD AGO Form 55 (Enlisted Record) to show award of the World War II Victory Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern (EAME) Campaign Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, two awards of the Bronze Star Medal, one of which for valor (correctly known as the Bronze Star Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster with “V” Device), the Good Conduct Medal, two awards of the Purple Heart (correctly known as the Purple Heart with First Oak Leaf Cluster), the American...