| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Vic Whitney | Analyst |
| Mr. John N. Slone |
Chairperson | |
| Mr. John E. Denning |
Member | |
| Ms. Barbara J. Ellis |
Member |
2. The applicant requests that his records be corrected to show the award of the Purple Heart.
3. The applicant states that his discharge papers do not show his award of the Purple Heart. He submits copies of: 1) his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation), 2) his WD-AGO Form 100 (Separation Qualification Record), and 3) a Western Union Telegram.
4. The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center. This case was reviewed with documents provided from other sources.
5. The applicant was inducted and entered active duty on 2 April 1943. He served in the European Theater as a tank gunner and armored infantry squad leader from 29 November 1943 through 1 February 1945. Effective 15 June 1945 he was separated in the grade of staff sergeant with a Certificate of Disability for Discharge. His authorized awards include the Combat Infantryman Badge.
6. His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he was wounded in action on 5 October 1944. A telegram from the Army Adjutant General to the applicant’s father states that the applicant was slightly wounded in action in Germany on 5 October. An Army report from the Office of The Surgeon General shows that he was wounded in the thigh on 5 October 1944 and was declared a battle casualty.
7. Also in the applicant’s records is a DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards) which shows that the applicant was issued a Bronze Star Medal based on his award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.
8. 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.
9. The regulation also provides, in pertinent part, that the Bronze Star Medal is awarded for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service in military operations against an armed enemy. The Bronze Star Medal is authorized for each individual who was cited in orders or awarded a certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. An award of the Combat Infantryman Badge is considered to be a citation in orders.
10. The World War II Victory Medal was established by an act of Congress on 6 July 1945. It is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. There is sufficient evidence of record to show that the applicant was wounded in action and entitled to an award of the Purple Heart.
2. The applicant is also entitled to have his records corrected to show an award of the Bronze Star Medal, based on the Combat Infantryman Badge, and entitlement to the World War II Victory Medal.
3. In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case for the individual concerned be corrected by:
a. showing that he was wounded as a result of enemy action on 5 October 1944 and entitled to the Purple Heart;
b. showing that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on the Combat Infantryman Badge; and
c. showing that he is entitled to the World War II Victory Medal.
BOARD VOTE:
___js___ __jd___ ___be___ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
___John N. Slone___
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2001062730 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020214 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT PLUS |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.00 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060005557C070205
The applicant’s military records are not available to the Board for review. The medical evidence of record and the Western Union telegram which show the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action on 29 August 1944 are accepted as sufficient evidence on which to award a second award of the Purple Heart and amend his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show award of the Purple Heart with First Oak Leaf Cluster in this case. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090012721
The evidence of record shows the applicant was wounded in combat as a result of enemy artillery fire on 18 November 1944. Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of this Combat Infantryman Badge and correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show this award. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding the applicant the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 18...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002082785C070215
The applicant requests, as the widow of the former service member (FSM), that her late husband's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) be corrected to show that he was wounded in action, that he was a prisoner of war and that he served in the Glider Division. There are no orders for the Combat Infantryman Badge in the available records; however, the FSM'S WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he served in military occupational specialty (MOS) 745 (rifleman) during World War...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120004593
The applicant's military records are not available for review. The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 and the Western Union telegram he provides are sufficient to show he was wounded in action on 25 January 1945; therefore, he is entitled to award of the Purple Heart and correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show this award. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding him the: * Bronze Star Medal based on...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001064391C070421
Therefore, the applicant is entitled to award of the Purple Heart and correction of his military records to show this award. Evidence of record shows the applicant was entitled to combat infantry pay; therefore, he is also entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and correction of his military records to show this award. The applicant completed over one year of “Continental Service”; therefore, he is entitled to award of the American Campaign Medal and correction of his records to...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130009468
The applicant requests the records of her deceased husband, a former service member (FSM), be corrected by awarding him the Purple Heart and the World War II Victory Medal. His service medical records are not available for review with this case. With respect to the World War II Victory Medal, this award is already listed on the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060002176C070205
The applicant requests that his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge) be corrected to show award of the Purple Heart (PH). As a result, the applicant is entitled to award of the Purple Heart for wounds sustained while serving in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations and correction of his records to show this award. Award of the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in the China-Burma- India Theater of Operations on 14 June 1944; c. Award of...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070012288
Evidence of record shows that the FSM was an infantryman assigned to an infantry unit during World War II and that he was twice wounded in action. Therefore, there is sufficient evidence that he is entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and correction of his records to show this award. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by awarding the FSM the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Bronze Star Medal based...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060011785
It also shows that he was authorized the Combat Infantryman Badge per Letter Order, WD AGO, D&A, dated 17 July 1946, with an effective date of pay of 27 December 1944, for his service during World War II. The evidence of record shows that the applicant was wounded in action on 10 January 1945, in Belgium, during World War II. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding the applicant the Purple Heart for...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003089788C070403
Based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the applicant is entitled to an award of the Bronze Star Medal. In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records but only as recommended below. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge), the EAME with...