| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mrs. Joyce A. Hall | Analyst |
| Mr. Fred N. Eichorn | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Margaret K. Patterson | Member | |
| Mr. Lester Echols | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: In effect, award of the Purple Heart (PH).
APPLICANT STATES: In effect, that he was wounded by penetrating gunshots to his abdomen, his neck and his right calf. His Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge (WD AGO Form 53-55) does not reflect the award of the PH.
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 11 December 1941. He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern (EAME) Theater of Operations for the period 20 April 1944 to
27 December 1945 and was honorably discharged on 23 January 1946.
The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55, item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) shows that he participated in 4 campaigns (Rome Arno, (Southern) France, Rhineland and Central Europe). Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) shows he was awarded the American Theater Campaign Medal, the EAME Campaign Medal w/4 Bronze Stars, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Meritorious Unit Award and the 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”. It also shows that the applicant was discharged/separated from the 68th Evacuation Hospital. 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.
The Office of the Surgeon General Hospital Admission Cards shows that the applicant was admitted/treated in February 1944 at Camp Cooke, California. The report shows he was admitted for wound(s), abraded (includes friction burns) and for acute bronchitis.
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. There is no evidence of record available to the Board, and the applicant has not provided any evidence, which shows he was wounded due to hostile action during World War II. Therefore, without official documented evidence, the applicant is not entitled to award of the PH. However, if the applicant can provide substantiated evidence such as official documented medical evidence that his wounds were caused by hostile action he may reapply.
2. The Board noted the Hospital Admission Records of the Surgeon General of the Army for the year 1944 show that the applicant was admitted/treated in February 1944 for wound(s). The Board also noted that the applicant’s admission to the hospital was prior to his arrival to the EAME.
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
__fne___ __mkp___ ___le___ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2001062057 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020207 |
| 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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