| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Nancy L. Amos | Analyst |
| Mr. Ted S. Kanamine | Chairperson | ||
| Mr. John T.Meixell | Member | ||
| Mr. Harry B. Oberg | Member |
2. The applicant requests award of the Purple Heart.
3. The applicant states that his newly-arrived 75th Infantry Regiment was rushed into combat during the Battle of the Bulge. He was first wounded in his lower back when he was struck by artillery fragments. He was unconscious for a time but the company medic bandaged his wound and asked him if he wanted to receive the Purple Heart. He replied, “No.” Several days later he was wounded again – receiving a cut on his left knee. The same medic tended his wound and he again requested he not receive the Purple Heart. He did not desire to receive the Purple Heart at the time because his mother’s brother was wounded during World War I and died of the infection which followed. She was deeply affected by this event. He wished to prevent her from hearing of his wounds. He provides his Report of Separation, WD AGO Form 53-55, as supporting evidence.
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 alternate sources.
5. The applicant was inducted into the Army on 30 June 1943 and entered active service on 14 July 1943. He arrived in the European Theater of Operations on 1 November 1944 and departed on 26 February 1946. He separated on 14 March 1946. His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he was assigned to Company M, 290th Infantry and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, two overseas service bars, the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Lapel Button.
6. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides for award of the Purple Heart 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. It provides for award of the Bronze Star Medal to members of the armed forces who, after 6 December 1941 and prior to 3 September 1945, have been cited in orders or in a formal certificate for meritorious or exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy. A citation in orders for the Combat Infantryman Badge or Medical Badge awarded in the field during the period of actual combat against the armed enemy is considered as a citation for exemplary conduct in ground combat. It provides for award of the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany clasp) for 30 consecutive days at a normal post of duty in Germany between 9 May 1945 and 5 May 1955.
7. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 shows that the 290th Infantry Regiment was given occupation credit for Germany for the period 30 May through 4 July 1945.
8. A review of the historical files of the 290th Infantry Regiment at the National Archives in College Park, MD failed to support award of the Purple Heart to the applicant. A Report of Action for the period 24 – 31 December 1944 supported his contention that his unit was newly-arrived in Europe and was rushed into combat. It noted that heavy casualties were suffered in the 3d Battalion on 25 December 1944; however, a listing of casualties was not included.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. Regrettably, there is insufficient evidence of record to support award of the Purple Heart to the applicant.
2. The evidence of record does support award of the Bronze Star Medal based upon award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and award of the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany clasp) to the applicant.
3. 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 awarding the applicant the Bronze Star Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany clasp).
2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
__TSK__ __JTM__ __HBO___ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
____Ted S. Kanamine___
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2001065913 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 2002/07/11 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | Partial Grant |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0015 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140016914
The applicant, the sister of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests correction of her late brother's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) to show award of the Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal, and Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp. Therefore, he is authorized award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp and his WD AGO Form 53-55 should be corrected to show this award. As a result, the Board recommends that...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140019441
The applicant, the daughter of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests correction of her father's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) to add: * two missing campaigns (Sicily and Anzio) * two additional bronze service stars to his previously awarded European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with "5" bronze service stars * two additional awards of the Purple Heart * Army of Occupation Medal (Germany) * American Campaign Medal 2. ...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080011498
The applicant requests correction of his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation (WD AGO Form 53-55) to show the time that he served in Company M, 75th Infantry Battalion, 290th Infantry Regiment. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. amending his WD AGO Form 53-55 for the period ending 9 November 1945 to show that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the American Campaign Medal; and b. amending his WD...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 040008199C070208
In effect, the applicant requests award of the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, and that his record be corrected to show participation in three campaigns during World War II, vice the one campaign shown. The applicant’s military records are not available to the Board for review. Unfortunately, as he himself has stated, there is no such evidence.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130021791
The applicant requests the WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Service) of his deceased uncle, a former service member (FSM), be corrected to show: * A bronze arrowhead and three additional bronze service stars to be affixed to his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal * Presidential Unit Citation 2. Based on award of this badge, he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal and correction of his records to show it. As a result, the Board...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130009183
He provides: * WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge) * WD AGO Form 38 * Congressional correspondence * Veterans Administration (VA) Rating Decision * Application to the State of Iowa for World War II Service Compensation * three National Archives Forms 13045 (Informal Information Reply) * Request for Service Information in Connection with Insurance * National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) Test Form 99-2B (Addendum to DA Form 1577 (Authorization...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003090569C070212
Block 31 (Military Qualification and Date) of the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. It would be appropriate to correct the applicant's WD AGO From 53-55 and include a record of his being wounded in action 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. adding the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart to the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55;
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060007442C070205
The applicant requests reconsideration of his request for two awards of the Purple Heart and correction of his discharge document to show that he served with the 86th Mountain Infantry Regiment, 10th Infantry Division during World War II; his military occupational specialty (MOS) was combat infantryman; and that he was wounded twice and awarded the Purple Heart (1st Oak Leaf Cluster). He further provides copies of his medical record progress reports that show, in pertinent part, the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130014150
The applicant, the widow of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests correction of the FSMs WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation-Honorable Discharge) to show he was awarded the Prisoner of War (POW) Medal, Bronze Star Medal (BSM), and Purple Heart. The National Archives WWII Prisoners of War Data File, 7 December 1941 to 19 November 1946, lists the FSM as having been captured in the European Theater on 11 July 1944. As a result, the Board recommends that all...
ARMY | BCMR | CY1996 | 9609033C070209
While his WD AGO Form 53-55 (report of separation) reflects award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and two U.S. unit decorations awarded to the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment it does not reflect award of either Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal or any foreign decorations awarded to the applicants unit. Subsequent to the applicants separation, in 1965, the U.S. Army Reserve Personnel Command awarded the applicant a Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award based on the applicants Combat...