| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Wanda L. Waller | Analyst |
| Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Melinda M. Darby | Member | |
| Mr. John T. Meixell | Member |
2. The applicant, as the daughter and legal representative of a former service member (FSM), requests correction of her father’s DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) to show award of the Purple Heart.
3. The applicant states, in effect, that her father sustained a gunshot wound to his right arm in Korea. In support of her application, the applicant submits two copies of the FSM’s DD Forms 214 with effective dates of 9 October 1953 and
2 March 1955; and a Durable General Power of Attorney, dated 12 April 2001.
4. The FSM’s military records show that he enlisted on 20 September 1949. He served as a light weapons infantryman in Korea from 19 February 1951 through 29 August 1953 and was honorably discharged on 9 October 1953. He reenlisted on 7 January 1954 and was discharged under honorable conditions
(a general discharge) on 2 March 1955.
5. The FSM’s DD Forms 214 do not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award.
6. The available records contain information from the Hospital Admission Cards created by the Office of The Surgeon General, Department of the Army (1942-1945 and 1950-1954) which indicate the FSM was hospitalized for burns to his left leg sustained as a direct result of enemy action on 11 March 1951 in Korea.
7. The available records also contain a FEC AGO Form 241 (Casualty Report), dated 16 October 1951, which states “EM [enlisted member] missing in action
14 Sep 51 in the vicinity of Suim-Myon, North Korea. EM’s Company has stated that EM was wounded in action and evacuated to hospital unknown.” The available records contain three eyewitness statements attesting that the FSM was on his way to the aid station after being wounded in action on 14 September 1951 when he disappeared. One eyewitness statement provided by a guard indicates that he redressed the FSM’s wound, that the FSM joined approximately six or seven other wounded soldiers enroute to the aid station and shortly thereafter he (the guard) heard small arms fire in the vicinity in which the wounded soldiers were traveling.
8. The FSM’s records show that he was missing in action in Korea from
14 September 1951 and was returned to military control on 26 August 1953.
9. 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. 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. The bronze oak leaf cluster is awarded to denote the second and succeeding awards of certain decorations, among which is the Purple Heart.
10. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the Prisoner of War Medal. The regulation states that the Prisoner of War Medal was authorized on 8 November 1985 and is awarded to individuals who in past armed conflicts were taken prisoner or held captive.
11. Army Regulation 635-5 establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing discharge documents. In pertinent part, it directs that, in the case of prisoners of war, the unit of assignment, country and dates of capture and release will be entered in the “Remarks” section of the discharge document.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. Medical evidence of record shows the FSM was wounded as a result of hostile action on 11 March 1951 in Korea. Evidence of record also shows that the FSM was wounded as a result of hostile action prior to being taken prisoner on 14 September 1951 in Korea. Therefore, the Board determined that there is sufficient evidence on which to base two awards of the Purple Heart (correctly known as the Purple Heart with First Oak Leaf Cluster) in this case.
2. The FSM was a prisoner of war from 14 September 1951 through 26 August 1953 in Korea. Therefore, the FSM is entitled to award of the Prisoner of War Medal and correction of item 38 (Remarks) on his DD Form 214 with an effective date of 9 October 1953 to show his POW status.
3. In view of the foregoing, the FSM’s records should be corrected as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:
a. by adding the entries, “Purple Heart with First Oak Leaf Cluster” and “Prisoner of War Medal” in item 27 (Decorations, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) on the DD Form 214 with an effective date of 9 October 1953 of the FSM concerned;
b. by deleting the entry, “NONE” in item 29 (Wounds Received as a Result of Action with Enemy Forces) on his DD Form 214 with an effective date of 9 October 1953;
c. by adding the entries, “Korea, 11 March 1951” and “Korea,
14 September 1951” in item 29 on the DD Form 214 with an effective date of
9 October 1953; and
d. by adding the entry, “Prisoner of War, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Korea, 510914-530826.” In item 38 (Remarks) on his DD Form 214 with an effective date of 9 October 1953.
BOARD VOTE:
INW____ MMD____ JTM____ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
__Irene N. Wheelwright_____
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2002066999 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020416 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT PLUS |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0015 |
| 2. | 107.0030 |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100027625
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). It would appropriate to correct his DD Form 214 to show he was a POW from 18 May 1951 to 21 August 1953. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding the applicant the Purple Heart for wounds received on 18 May 1951 and the Prisoner of War Medal; b. adding to item 26 of his 1962 and 1966 DD Forms 214 the following...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140008272
The FSM's military records are not available for review. Therefore, he is authorized award of the Prisoner of War Medal and his DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this award. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. posthumously awarding the FSM the Purple Heart for wounds received in action in South Korea between 3 November 1951 and 18 August 1953, b. posthumously awarding the FSM the Army Good Conduct...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080019324
Army Regulation 600-8-22 states that the Republic of Korea War Service Medal (ROKWSM) is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who served in Korea and adjacent waters between 25 June 1950 and 27 July 1954. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding the FSM the Purple Heart with first oak leaf cluster, for wounds received as a result of hostile action in Korea on 26 June 1951 and 13 October 1951; b....
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002077450C070215
The applicant's Service Record shows that he was a POW in Korea from 11 February 1951 to 30 August 1953. Once the Korean War Service Medal has been authorized by the Department of the Air Force, the applicant may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records to add this foreign award to his DD Form 214. b. by amending his DD Form 214, with an effective date of 28 February 1954, to show he was awarded the Purple Heart, the POW Medal, two awards of the Republic of Korea...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100000539
Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). The applicant requests correction of the last DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) of his deceased father, a former service member (FSM), to show the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Prisoner of War Medal, and any Vietnam and Korea awards not already listed. This regulation: a. states that for item 24 of the DD Form 214 enter from section 9, DA Form 20,...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070010761
In a second letter written by the eyewitness to the FSM's daughter, the eyewitness states, in effect, he believes that the FSM did not receive the Purple Heart due to the statements he [the FSM] made while he was still in the military. This, he states, could be the case with her father. The eyewitness' statements in support of the FSM being awarded the Purple Heart were considered; however, his statements are insufficient to reverse the decision of the Board, especially in view of the fact...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 03094250C070212
The applicant requests that her deceased husband, a former service member (FSM) be awarded the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War (POW) Medal. The applicant's DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) does not show award of the Purple Heart or the POW Medal. Counsel requests award of the Purple Heart and the POW Medal for the FSM.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130002517
The applicant, the daughter of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests correction of her late father's DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) for the period ending 1 September 1953 to show two awards of the Purple Heart. The applicant states the FSM's DD Form 214 for the period 28 November 1950 to 1 September 1953 shows he received wounds to his right thigh and right buttock. The entry in item 29 of the FSM's DD Form 214 for the period ending...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080010098
His WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge) shows he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 1 bronze service star, and the World War II Victory Medal. The applicant's records contain a DD Form 214 for the period 14 April 1956 to 13 April 1962, showing award of the American Defense Service Medal, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002083107C070215
The FSM's DD Form 214 shows he received the Korean Service Medal with three bronze service stars. There is no evidence of record, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows the FSM was awarded two awards of the Bronze Star Medal, one award for valor. That so much of the application as pertains to correction of his DD Form 214 to show his rank as master sergeant, two additional awards of the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster with "V" Device, one...