| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mrs. Joyce A. Hall | Analyst |
| Mr. Luther L. Santiful | Chairperson | ||
| Ms. Paula Mokulis | Member | ||
| Mr. Donald P. Hupman, Jr. | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: In effect, that his records be corrected to show the award of the Purple Heart.
APPLICANT STATES: In effect, that he was not awarded the Purple Heart for the injury he received in World War II.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records show:
On 26 May 1943, the applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States.
His record shows that he served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater as a heavy mortar crewman from 12 November 1943 to 4 August 1945 and was honorably discharged on 19 November 1945.
The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) shows as authorized awards the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon (known as the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Medal), the Lapel Button, and the Victory Medal (known as the WW II Victory Medal). It does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award. Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) of his discharge document shows the entry NONE. The applicant authenticated his WD AGO 53-55 in his own hand at the time of his discharge from the Army.
The applicant’s WD AGO Form 24 (Service Record) is complete and legible. There is no indication in this record that he was wounded as a result of hostile action or was awarded the Purple Heart.
The WD AGO Form 33 (Report of Physical Examination of Enlisted Personnel Prior to Discharge, Release from Active Duty or Retirement) filed in the applicant’s service record shows that the applicant had a three inch scar, which was located on his anterior forearm; however, there is no indication how the applicant incurred the scar.
The applicant’s records contain a DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards) prepared by the National Personnel Records Center and dated
26 February 2001. This document shows that the Chief of the Army Reference Branch of the National Personnel Records Center determined that the applicant was entitled, in addition to the awards already listed on his WD AGO 53-55, to the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Unit Emblem, the American Campaign Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars.
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.
DISCUSSION: Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:
1. There is no evidence of record available to the Board, and the applicant has not provided any evidence, which shows he was wounded due to hostile action during World War II. Therefore, without official documented evidence, the applicant does not meet the criteria for award of the Purple Heart.
2. In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust. The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy this requirement.
3. In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.
DETERMINATION: The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.
NOTE: The Board noted that the DA Form 1577 filed in the applicant’s record authorized several awards that the applicant was entitled to based on his participation in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. Therefore, the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 should be amended to show the awards of the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Unit Emblem, the American Campaign Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
___LLS__ __PM___ __DPH__ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2002066807 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 2002/08/06 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | YYYYMMDD |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | DENY |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 100.0015 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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