| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. W. E. Schnupp | Analyst |
| Mr. George D. Paxson | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Thomas A. Pagan | Member | |
| Mr. Melvin H. Meyer | Member |
2. The applicant requests that his award of the Purple Heart be reflected on his discharge.
3. The applicant states that he received the Purple Heart but it is not listed on his discharge. In support of his request, he provides a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, and a copy of a Western Union Telegram informing his wife that he had been wounded in action.
4. The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted on 25 March 1944, was awarded the military occupational specialty of Light Truck Driver, and served in the European Theater of Operations with Company L, 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division from November 1944 to March 1946. He was honorably discharged at demobilization in the grade of technician 4th grade on 15 March 1946.
5. Awards reflected on his WD AGO Form 53-55, include the Good Conduct Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 bronze service stars (even though item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) shows that he participated in only one campaign), the World War II Victory Medal and the World War II Honorable Service Lapel Button. The Purple Heart is not listed as an authorized award. Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) does not show that he suffered any wounds in combat.
6. Evidence provided by the applicant shows that on 31 January 1945, The Adjutant General of the Army sent a Western Union Telegram to the applicant’s wife advising her that he had been “slightly wounded in action” in Belgium, on 13 January [1945]. The applicant’s records also contain a record of award of the Purple Heart, issued by the 35th Evacuation Hospital, showing that he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 13 January 1945.
7. DA Pamphlet 672-1, The Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, shows that the 358th Infantry was awarded campaign credit for four campaigns during World War II. The applicant’s record shows that he was assigned to the unit during the period of three of those campaigns: Ardenne-Alsace, 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945; Central Europe, 22 March to 11 May 1945; and, Rhineland, 15 September 1944 to 21 March 1945. The later campaign is already listed on his WD AGO Form 53-55.
8. The register also shows that the 358th Infantry was granted occupation credit for Germany for the period 20 May to 31 October 1945. There are no other unit level awards shown for his unit.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The evidence of record shows that the applicant was wounded in action on 13 January 1945, and was awarded the Purple Heart, but the awarded was not recorded on his WD AGO Form 53-55. In light of the evidence, it would be appropriate to list the Purple Heart on his discharge document.
2. Furthermore, based on the applicant’s period of service in the European Theater of Operations with the 358th Infantry, it would be appropriate to show that he participated in the Ardenne-Alsace and the Central Europe campaigns in addition to the Rhineland campaign, for which he has already been credited. Additionally, the applicant was assigned to the 358th Infantry during the time the unit was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp and he should be awarded this credit as well.
3. In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was wounded in action in the European Theater of Operations on 13 January 1945, and awarded the Purple Heart and awarded campaign credit for the Ardenne-Alsace and Central Europe campaigns, in addition to the Rhineland campaign, and awarded the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.
BOARD VOTE:
___gdp__ ____mhm ___tap __ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
_________George D. Paxson__________
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2002067027 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020220 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | YYYYMMDD |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | (GRANT PLUS) |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. 107.00 | |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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