| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Wanda L. Waller | Analyst |
| Ms. Margaret K. Patterson | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Karol A. Kennedy | Member | |
| Mr. Richard T. Dunbar | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: In effect, award of the Purple Heart.
APPLICANT STATES: In effect, that he is entitled to award of the Purple Heart for a service connected disability (scar distal tip of left ring finger). In support of his application, he submits a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) letter, dated
12 March 1992; a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation); and a copy of WD AGO Form 100 (Separation Qualification Record).
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: 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 15 January 1943. He served as an artillery weapons crewman in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations from 21 September 1943 through 15 December 1945 and was honorably discharged on 11 January 1946.
The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55, which was authenticated in his own hand, does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award. Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) on the WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the entry “NONE”.
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 during World War II.
The applicant provided a letter from the VA, dated 12 March 1992, which shows the VA determined that his conditions for scar right palm and scar distal tip of left ring finger were service connected. However, there is no evidence that these 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, 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. There is no evidence of record, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows that he was wounded or treated for wounds as a result of hostile action during World War II.
2. The applicant signed his discharge document on 11 January 1946 attesting to the fact that he was not entitled to the Purple Heart and was not wounded in action. Therefore, there is no evidence upon which to base award of the Purple Heart to the applicant.
3. 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.
4. In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's 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
MKP____ KAK____ RTD_____ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2001058880 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20011002 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | (DENY) |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0015 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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