| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. William Blakely | Analyst |
| Mr. George D. Paxson | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Thomas A. Pagan | Member | |
| Mr. Melvin H. Meyer | Member |
2. The applicant requests, in effect, that he be awarded the Purple Heart (PH).
3. The applicant states, in effect, that he was wounded in action and should be awarded the PH. He states that the Veterans Administration (VA) awarded him a 0 percent disability rating for scars that were service connected. In support of his application, he submits a document listing his service connected disabilities with percentage, a copy of his Honorable Discharge Certificate, and his Enlisted Record and Report Of Separation (WD AGO Form 53-55).
4. The applicant’s military records show that on 15 July 1943, he was inducted in the Army of the United States. He served overseas in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) from 1 May 1944 to 19 August 1945 and during his active duty tenure he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 bronze service stars, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). On 14 November 1945, he was honorably released from active duty in the rank of private first class.
5. Item 34 (Wounds received in action) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-33 contains the entry “None”, which indicated he was not wounded in action during his active duty tenure. In addition, his service record (WD AGO Form 24) gives no indication that he was awarded the PH in either the awards or battle wounds sections.
6. An Authorization for Issuance of Awards (DA Form 1577), dated 2 August 1985, issued by the Reserve Components Personnel Administration Center (RCPAC), St. Louis, Missouri, authorized the issue of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) and the reissue of the CIB to the applicant.
7. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the PH 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.
8. Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides, in pertinent part, that the BSM is awarded for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service in military operations against an armed enemy. The BSM 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 CIB or the Combat Medical Badge is considered to be a citation in orders. This means, in effect, that the BSM is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service during World War II.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The Board notes the applicant claim of entitlement to the PH; however, a review of his records failed to provide evidence to support this claim. The evidence of record is void of any indication that he was ever awarded or recommended for the award of the PH, or that he was ever wounded or injured in action.
2. Notwithstanding the disability rating action taken by the VA, the Board finds the applicant has failed to provide evidence that confirms he was wounded in action, required medical treatment for a wound or injury received in action, or that treatment for a wound in action was made a matter of official record, as required by regulation. Therefore, the Board finds insufficient evidence to support his claim of entitlement to the PH, and it is compelled to deny the requested relief.
3. Regulatory guidance authorizes awarding the BSM for those individuals who were authorized the CIB or the Combat Medical Badge during World War II. The Board notes that the applicant was awarded the CIB during World War II and that he was subsequently issued the award by Army officials. Therefore, the Board finds that it would be appropriate to add this award to his record at this time.
4. In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the BSM; and by providing him a corrected separation document that includes this award.
2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
__GDP__ __TAP__ __MHM__ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
___George D. Paxson___
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2001065541 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | YYYYMMDD |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | 2002/02/21 |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | (Partial Relief) |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0015 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002076532C070215
The applicant requests, in effect, that his military records be corrected to show he was awarded the Purple Heart (PH) and to reflect the time he was in a Prisoner of War (POW) status, for which he received the (POW) Medal. The available medical files contain no other information in regard to the applicant being treated for any wounds received in action during his active duty tenure during World War II. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case, particularly the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003090535C070212
The applicant’s military records were not available to the Board for review. Paragraph 2-8f of the awards regulation states that for those who became Prisoners of War after 25 April 1962, the PH will be awarded to individuals wounded while prisoners of foreign forces, upon submission by the individual to the Department of the Army of an affidavit that is supported by a statement from a witness, if this is possible. Therefore, it would be appropriate to award the applicant the PH, for being...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001060477C070421
The applicant’s military records were not available to the Board for review. Also on file is a military record finding report from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), dated 1 August 2001. The Board also finds the available evidence confirms that the applicant served with the 507 th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the ETO and that the unit listed in his separation document was likely a transitional unit to which he was assigned for movement and processing prior to his...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050006195C070206
The applicant states, in effect, that he is entitled to the PH based on shrapnel wounds he received in his right leg on 7 October 1944, and this award should be added to the awards listed on his separation document (WD AGO Form 53-55). It states, in pertinent part, that a bronze service star is authorized with this award for each campaign a member participated in while serving in the ETO. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003085234C070212
I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual. The applicant’s military records were not available to the Board for review. However, based on the lack of records and evidence to show that his condition was a qualifying wound or injury that entitled him to the PH, the Board is regrettably compelled to deny the applicant’s PH request.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002082060C070215
I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual. The applicant’s military records were not available to the Board for review. Although the standard evidentiary documentation required for awarding the PH is not present in this case, the Board does find that the information contained in the unit historical files of the applicant’s unit maintained at the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 20040000155C070208
It states, in pertinent part, that a bronze service star is authorized with this award for each campaign a member participated in while serving in the ETO. By regulation, in order to support awarding a member the PH, it is necessary to establish that the member was wounded in action, treated for the wound received in action and the record of this treatment must have been made a matter of official record. The medical treatment record (Form 52a) and OTSG Hospital Admission Record on file...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001060990C070421
The applicant requests, in effect, that his military records be corrected to show the rank and pay grade of technical sergeant (TSGT) and that he be recognized for wounds received in action during combat operations. The applicant requests, in effect, that his military records be corrected to show the rank and pay grade of technical sergeant (TSGT) and that he be recognized for wounds received in action during combat operations. The applicant requests, in effect, that his military records...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001056045C070420
The applicant’s military records were not available to the Board for review. By regulation, in order to support awarding a member the PH, it is necessary to establish that the wound for which the award is being made required treatment by a medical officer. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the individual concerned the PH for a wound he received in action, on 10 October 1944, while serving as a PFC, in the ETO during World War II;...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003089153C070403
Further, there are no other orders or other documents on file that show the applicant was wounded in action on any other date, to include 3 January 1945, or that he was ever awarded a second PH. The evidence of record confirms that the applicant was awarded the PH, for wounds he received as a result of enemy action on 4 January 1945, in Belgium. Although the PH entry in Item 33 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 indicates it was awarded with cluster, GO #35, the source authority for this entry, only...