| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mrs. Joyce A. Hall | Analyst |
| Mr. Luther L. Santiful | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Joe R. Schroeder | Member | |
| Mr. Charles Gainor | Member |
2. The applicant requests in effect, the award of the Purple Heart and that his Official Military Personnel record be corrected to reflect the award.
3. The applicant states in effect, that he participated in 7 campaigns while stationed in France and Germany during World War I (WWI). He was wounded by shrapnel twice once in each leg, while station in France. He had no other recourse at the time but to treat himself with the drugs that he found in his medic’s first aid kit. He believes that since he did not seek professional
medical attention for his injuries, he never received the Purple Heart award.
In support of his application, he submits a letter from his private physician
dated 16 May 2001, from the St. Vincent Institute on Aging, a copy of his
certification of military service and copies of two article clippings.
4. The applicant's reconstructed military record shows that he was born on
29 September 1896. After graduating from Loyola University in Chicago in
1916 with a degree in pharmacy, he entered the United States Army as a private on 25 June 1918.
5. A review of the Historical Files at the National Archives, College Park, Maryland, revealed that Special Order 155, dated 24 October 1918, published by Headquarters, 164th Field Artillery Brigade, showed that the applicant was reassigned to the 340th Field Artillery Regiment, 89th Infantry Division, which was located in France.
6. Further review of the historical files also showed that the 89th Infantry Division was located on the front line, during the heat of battle. The applicant was a member of the 89th Infantry Division while it was in contact with the enemy. The Division suffered the bulk of its casualties during the last two weeks in October 1918, just before WWI came to a close on 11 November 1918.
7. On 5 June 1919, the applicant was honorably discharged from the United States Army. The applicant’s separation document shows ”None” for wounds received in service.
8. The applicant provides a letter from his doctor dated 16 May 2001. He states in effect, that on 12 November 1996, that the story the applicant provided him at the time of his initial examination was certainly consistent with old war injuries/wounds; which were consistent with well-healed, old, shrapnel-type wounds. The doctor also observed some heavy scaling over patches of the right shin and also on the left heel. The applicant’s doctor believes that the injuries that the applicant sustained were probably secondary to his old shrapnel wounds.
9. In processing this application an opinion from the applicant’s counsel dated
28 September 2001, was submitted. His counsel states in effect, that he believes and fully supports the applicant’s claim that he was wounded in WWI. Because of his medical training prior to his military service, he was capable of treating his own injury. Therefore, supporting awarding the applicant the Purple Heart.
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 by a medical officer, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The statements of individuals are inadequate as the sole basis for an award of the Purple Heart because they do not fulfill the regulatory requirement that there is a record of medical treatment. However, in this case the Board accepts the statement of the applicant and his private physician as sufficient evidence to grant the award of the Purple Heart. In addition the applicant was assigned to a unit at the time where casualties were at its peak.
2. The applicant has not been able to supply any medical documentation to meet the statutory requirements for a record of treatment at the time of injury. However, due to the applicant’s knowledge of medicine, the Board believes that he could have very well treated himself. When taken in concert with the applicant’s statement and his physician’s statement, the Board believes that there is sufficient evidence to warrant an exception to policy in this case by granting the relief requested.
3. In view of the foregoing, findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the individual concerned the Purple Heart for wounds sustained on 24 October 1918.
BOARD VOTE:
__lls___ __jrs___ __cg____ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
Luther L. Santiful
______________________
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2001058722 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20011010 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0015 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060005853C070205
The applicant requests that the records of her deceased father, a former service member (FSM), be corrected by awarding him the Purple Heart for wounds received in action against the enemy in World War I. The FSM’s military records are not available to the Board for review. While there is very limited evidence in this case, the evidence provided by the applicant is sufficient to show that the FSM was wounded in action against the enemy on 29 September 1918, during WWI.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003085617C070212
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. Barbara J. EllisMember The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board. The applicant states that the FSM was never awarded a PH for his injuries during his service in World War I and that even though this request is over 84 years in the making, the FSM is deserving of the honor of being...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140011288
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). The applicant states her father should receive the Purple Heart for gunshot wounds he received to his right shoulder during his service in France during WWI, per a field medical record card. A Form 52 (provided by the applicant that corroborates the Enlistment Record) shows a wound received in the line of duty in block 15 (Complication, Seq, etc.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140017910
The FSM's complete military records are not available to the Board for review. It was awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of the Armed Forces who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after 5 April 1917, died or sustained wounds as a result of hostile action. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: * showing the FSM was...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090011270
The applicant requests, in effect, that the records of her deceased father, a former service member (FSM), be corrected to show he earned the following awards as a result of his service during World War I (WWI): a. Purple Heart b. WWI Victory Medal with four service stars c. WWI Victory Button (silver) d. Army Service Clasp for service in France e. Army Battle/Campaign Clasp f. Army of Occupation of Germany Medal 2. However, the available documents verify only his participation in the St....
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100015988
The FSMs military records are not available to the Board for review. Evidence shows the FSM is entitled to award of the World War I Victory Medal with battle Clasps for the Meuse-Argonne campaign. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. posthumously awarding the FSM the Purple Heart for wounds received during World War I in 1918; and b. adding the Purple Heart and a World War I Victory Medal with Battle...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130010986
The FSM's military records are not available to the Board for review. The FSM's record contains a U.S. Army Medical Department admission and disposition form which shows he was admitted by his command on 4 March 1919, for an old gunshot wound to the left scapula which was incurred in the Argonne Forest on 5 October 1918. The evidence of record shows the FSM was wounded on 5 October 1918, captured, and held as a POW in Germany, until he was released from captivity on 26 January 1919.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100000710
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). The FSM's military records were not available to the Board for review. Records show that the FSM was wounded during his service in WWI.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110010071
The FSM's military records were not available to the Board for review. Records show the FSM was wounded during his service in WWI. The FSM's records show he served for a qualifying period of service for award of the WWI Victory Medal and three Battle Clasps for the Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne campaigns and correction of his records to show these awards.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090008092
The applicant, the son of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests correction of his late father's official military personnel record to show award of the Purple Heart. The FSM's military records are not available for review. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by awarding him the Purple Heart for wounds received in action in August 1918.