| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mrs. Joyce A. Hall | Analyst |
| Ms. Joann H. Langston | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Raymond J. Wagner | Member | |
| Mr. Richard T. Dunbar | Member |
2. The applicant requests, as the representative of the widow of a deceased former service member (FSM), that the FSM be awarded the Purple Heart.
3. The applicant states in effect, that the FSM was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge on 25 January 1944. She believes that the FSM is due the award posthumously. He was shot in the foot, his feet were frozen and he remained unconscious for 6 weeks. The applicant submits a copy of a Western Union telegram notifying her of the FSM’s injuries, a partial copy of a casualty roster
and several sworn statements from individuals who knew the FSM personally.
4. The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire in 1973. Information contained herein was obtained from reconstructed records.
5. The FSM was inducted into the Army of the United States on 10 March 1942.
His records also show his military occupational specialty as Tank Mechanic Minor Maintenance. The applicant served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater from 14 June 1944 to 18 November 1945. He was honorably discharged on 4 December 1945.
6. The applicant’s Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge (WD AGO Form 53-55) item 33 (Decorations and Citations) does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award. Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) of his discharge document shows the entry “Not Available”.
7. The applicant furnished a copy of a Western Union telegram that notified her that the FSM was wounded in action on 25 January 1945 as a result of hostile forces. The applicant also furnished a copy of a partial casualty list it states “From Kentucky Army Wounded in Europe Technician Fifth Grade W------ F.
P----, husband of Mrs. W---- P----“.
8. Filed in the FSM’s official military record are copies of Hospitalization Reports (W. D. A. G. O. Form 234). The W. D. A. G. O. Forms 234 notified the applicant of the FSM’s prognosis. The FSM’s medical records are unavailable for review.
9. 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 made a matter of official record.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The Board accepts the Western Union telegram and the Casualty Roster furnished by the applicant in addition to the evidence of record as substantiating evidence. The evidence clearly shows that the FSM was wounded and was treated for an injury received as a result of hostile action; therefore entitling the FSM to the award of the Purple Heart.
2. 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 be corrected to show that the FSM was awarded the Purple Heart.
BOARD VOTE:
__jhl___ __rjw___ __rtd___ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
Joann H. Langston
______________________
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2001063110 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020226 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | (GRANT) |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0015 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070001051
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. The applicant's military records are not available for review. The applicant requests that his WD AGO Form 53-55 be corrected to show the award of the Purple Heart.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002071470C070402
The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein. APPLICANT REQUESTS: That his discharge be corrected to show he was wounded in action and awarded the Purple Heart. EVIDENCE OF RECORD : The applicant's military records show:
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120000580
The applicant, the widow of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests: * Award of a Purple Heart on behalf of her spouse * Correction of the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge) to show the Purple Heart * Correction of Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) of the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 to show the entry "Wounded in Action" 2. The FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show and the applicant has not provided any evidence that shows the FSM...
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 | CY2002 | 2002082274C070215
In support of her claim for award of the Purple Heart, the applicant provided two newspaper articles which state that the FSM was wounded in action on 2 November in Germany. Therefore, the FSM's military records should be corrected to show award of the Purple Heart for wounds sustained on 2 November 1944 in the European Theater of Operations. Therefore, the FSM is entitled to correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130000348
The FSM's military records are not available to the Board for review. On 30 January 1946, the Acting The Adjutant General wrote a letter to the FSM wherein he informed the FSM that a review of his military records indicated that he was entitled to the following awards, which he could have added to his discharge certificate by presenting it to the Demobilized Personnel Records Branch in St. Louis, Missouri: * PH with OLC * Good Conduct Medal * Combat Infantryman Badge * American Theater...
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 | CY2003 | 2003086803C070212
There is no evidence in the available records which shows that the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart or was wounded as a result of hostile action in Vietnam. 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. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the applicant was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090004138
The Western Union Telegram, dated 16 August 1951, that the applicant submits, shows that she was notified that the FSM was slightly injured in action in Korea on 1 July 1951. In the application to this Board, dated 14 July 2008, the applicant requested that she be issued a DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214) to include all the awards to which the FSM was entitled, including the award of the Purple Heart. The applicant contends that the new evidence that she submits in support of her...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090014052
The FSM's military service records are not available to the Board for review. There is no evidence in the available military service records that shows the FSM was awarded the Purple Heart. There is no evidence in the FSM's available military service records that shows he was wounded while in action or as a result of enemy action.