| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Walter Avery, Jr. | Analyst |
| Ms. Margaret K. Patterson | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Karol A. Kennedy | Member | |
| Mr. Richard T. Dunbar | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS
APPLICANT STATES: In effect , that he was wounded in combat in France during World War II and should be awarded the Purple Heart.
In support of his requests he submits a statement from a civilian doctor. The note dated 27 June 2001, states that the applicant had a piece of shrapnel removed from his right hand in the spring of 1949.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records show:
His WD AGO Form 53-55 reflects that he was inducted on 23 August 1944 and served in the European Theater of Operations from March 1945 to October 1945. He was honorably separated at demobilization on 13 July 1946, in the grade of technician 4th grade.
His awards include the World War II Victory Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star, the Good Conduct Medal, the Meritorious Unit Award, and the Expert Badge with Rifle Bar. The Purple Heart is not listed as an authorized award.
Block 34 (wounds received in action) of the WD AGO 53-55 reflects the entry “None.
The applicant submits no sworn affidavits, eyewitness statements, certificates, orders, or corroborating statements from commanders, leaders, fellow comrades or health care personnel who had personal knowledge of the circumstances and events relative to this request.
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 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. There is no evidence of record, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows that he was awarded the Purple Heart or that he was wounded or treated for wounds as a result of hostile action. Neither is there any evidence that a unit or hospital commander may have awarded him the Purple Heart.
2. The Board noted the supporting statement. The statement did not indicate that the applicant was wounded as a result of enemy action or required treatment by a medical officer. This statement was not sufficient to support the award of the Purple Heart. Therefore, the applicant is not entitled to the award.
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 records 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
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2001059757 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20011002 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | YYYYMMDD |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | DENY |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1.107 | |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070012370
Based on the available evidence and the lack of corroborating evidence to show he was wounded in action by a hostile enemy, he is therefore not entitled to award of the Purple Heart and to have it added to his WD AGO Form 53-55. Evidence shows that the applicants records contain administrative error which does not require action by the Board. Therefore, the Board requests that the CMSD-St. Louis administratively correct the records of the individual concerned to show award of three bronze...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002069698C070402
The Board noted the citation in the 78th Infantry Division General Orders Number 186 which stated the applicant was wounded in action. Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show the award of the Purple Heart. DISCHARGE REASONBOARD DECISION(NC, GRANT , DENY, GRANT PLUS)REVIEW AUTHORITYISSUES 1.107.00152.3.4.5.6.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060010635
The WD AGO Form 53-55 that was issued to him at the time of his release from active duty essentially shows that he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. While the Board does not doubt the veracity of the applicants claim to entitlement to award of the Purple Heart, there is no evidence in the available records, and...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002072655C070403
The applicant requests correction of his records to show the second award of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal. In support of his application, he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation), his Honorable Discharge Certificate, a record of hospitalization, and a newspaper article. Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070005315
The applicant, the daughter of the deceased former service member (FSM), requests correction of her father's service records to show award of the Purple Heart for injuries received during WWII. The FSMs military records are not available to the Board for review. The FSM's daughter provided an undated letter titled Head Injury of the FSM during WWII.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060012542
The applicant, the daughter of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests that he be awarded the Purple Heart. While the Board does not doubt the veracity of the applicants claim that her late father is entitled to award of the Purple Heart, there is no evidence in the available records, and the applicant has failed to provide any evidence which conclusively shows the FSM sustained wounds as a result of hostile action, and that treatment for any wounds was made a matter of official...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002076505C070215
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 signed his WD AGO Form 53-55 on 15 January 1946 attesting to the fact that he was not wounded in action and that he was not entitled to the Purple Heart. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Bronze Star Medal...
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 | CY2011 | 20110005267
The applicant, the daughter of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests correction of her father's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge) to show his award of the Purple Heart. The FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 also shows the entry "Not available"; however, evidence shows the FSM was wounded in action on 1 April 1945 in the European theater. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060002417C070205
The applicant states he was wounded during World War II, but he was not awarded the Purple Heart at the time of his discharge. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members’ records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding him the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 19 November 1944 and the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the...