| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. W. W. Osborn, Jr. | Analyst |
| Mr. Fred N. Eichorn | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Barbara J. Ellis | Member | |
| Mr. Ronald E. Blakely | Member |
2. The applicant requests, in effect, that his discharge document (WD AGO Form 53-55) be corrected to show that he was awarded the Purple Heart.
3. The applicant states that he was wounded in action and spent 4 months in hospitals in Belgium.
4. The applicant’s military records were badly damaged in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center. Nevertheless, they are somewhat usable. They show that he was inducted on 30 May 1944 and was discharged due to demobilization on 11 June 1946. His authorized awards included the Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one bronze service star (for the Rhineland Campaign), the Meritorious Unit Award, and the Marksman Qualification Badge with Rifle and Machine Gun Bars.
5. Page 6 of his original personnel record book shows that he was lightly wounded in action in Zweifall, Germany on 3 December 1944, when he sustained a concussion.
6. General Orders Number 22, Headquarters 22nd Infantry Division, dated 4 October 1945 awarded the applicant the Combat Infantryman Badge.
7. War Department letter orders dated 29 April 1947 awarded him the Purple Heart.
8. Army Regulation 600-8-22 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 or whose such achievement or service, during that period, was confirmed by documents executed prior to 1 July 1947. An award of the Combat Infantryman Badge or the Combat Medical Badge is considered to be a citation in orders. This means, in effect, that the Bronze Star Medal is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service during World War II.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicant has been awarded the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge after his discharge; however, they should now be displayed on his discharge document.
2. The applicant is entitled to the Bronze Star Medal based on the Combat Infantryman Badge and this, too, should be shown on his discharge document.
3. In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, correcting the applicant’s records as recommended below would rectify an injustice.
RECOMMENDATION:
That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by amending the WD AGO 53-55 of the individual concerned to show that, in addition to the awards and qualifications already listed, he is authorized the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
BOARD VOTE:
_FNE___ __BJE___ ___REB__ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
_ Fred N. Eichorn__
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2001064134 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020418 |
| 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 | CY2001 | 2001064977C070421
Therefore, based on the best evidence available, the Board determined that the applicant is entitled to award of the Purple Heart and amendment of his WD AGO Form 53-55, with a separation date of 12 November 1945 to show this award and the date of his wounding as 23 November 1944. Therefore, the applicant is entitled to award of the American Campaign Medal and correction of his records to show this service medal. c. by placing the entry, “ARTILLERY BLAST, 23NOV1944, GERMANY” in item 34 of...
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...
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 | CY2004 | 2004105756C070208
There is insufficient evidence of record available to the Board, which shows that the applicant sustained frozen feet before he was taken prisoner of war, while he was engaged in actual combat with the enemy. The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief and to excuse failure to timely file. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by awarding the...
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 | CY2005 | 20050000221C070206
The applicant requests correction of his records to show award of the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. 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 or whose achievement or service, during that period, was confirmed by documents executed prior to 1 July 1947. There are no orders...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001062930C070421
The applicant requests correction of item 6 (Organization) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to show he served in the 358th Infantry Regiment of the 90th Infantry Division. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows award of the Combat Infantryman Badge in item 31 (Military Qualification and Date). There are no orders available to the Board which authorize award of the Purple Heart to the applicant.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002074712C070403
The applicant requests, as the daughter of a deceased former service member (FSM), correction of her father’s military records to show award of the Purple Heart. However, there is no evidence of record available to the Board which shows the FSM was wounded or treated for wounds as a result of hostile action during World War II. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the FSM was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060004759C070205
The applicant’s military records are not available to the Board for review. The medical evidence of record which shows the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action in July 1944 is accepted as sufficient evidence on which to amend his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show award of the Purple Heart in this case. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. adding the entry, “July 1944, European Theater of Operations”...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001064946C070421
The applicant requests correction of his records to show his birth date as 26 December 1924 instead of 26 November 1924, to show he served in the 75th Infantry Division, to show he was a prisoner of war and to show he was in a convalescent hospital for nine months. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 24 (Service Record) shows his birth date is 26 November 1924. Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Prisoner of War Medal and correction of his records to shows this award.