| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mrs. Joyce A. Hall | Analyst |
| Mr. George D. Paxson | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Walter T. Morrison | Member | |
| Mr. Richard T. Dunbar | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: Award of the Purple Heart Medal.
APPLICANT STATES: In effect, that he was wounded on 7 August 1944 while serving in France. He was standing behind a 21/2-ton truck near a bridge, German forces bombed the bridge and he was wounded in his right arm. He did not go to the field hospital for medical treatment. He chose to be treated by the company medic so that he could stay with the soldiers he trained with and knew.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973. Information available to the Board was obtained from a reconstructed record and show that he was inducted on 22 December 1942. He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations for the period 12 June 1944 to 28 November 1945 and was honorably discharged on 16 December 1945.
The applicant’s Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge (WD AGO 53-55), item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) shows that he participated in 5 campaigns (Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe). Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) shows he was awarded the American Theater Ribbon (now known as the American Campaign Medal), the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/5 Bronze Stars, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Sharpshooter’s Badge (Rifle) and World War II Lapel Button. It does not show the PH as an authorized award.
Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55, which was authenticated in his own hand, shows the entry “None”. There is no record that the applicant was awarded the PH. There also is no indication that he was wounded as a result of hostile action. The applicant’s medical records are unavailable.
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 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. 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.
2. There is no evidence of record available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows he was injured or wounded due to hostile action during World War II. Therefore, without official documented evidence the applicant is not entitled to award of the Purple Heart. However, if the applicant can provide substantiated evidence such as official documented medical evidence that the wound to his right arm was caused by enemy forces he may reapply.
3. 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
__gdp___ __wtm___ __rtd___ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2001061922 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020124 |
| 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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