| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Kenneth H. Aucock | Analyst |
| Ms. Jennifer L. Prater | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Barbara J. Ellis | Member | |
| Mr. Thomas Lanyi | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: Award of the Purple Heart.
APPLICANT STATES: The applicant made a statement to the VA that he would like the award of the Purple Heart be placed on his discharge. He enclosed a copy of a medical record showing the treatment that he received.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973. Information herein was obtained from alternate sources.
The applicant entered on active duty on 10 November 1942, served in the European Theater of Operations during World War II, and was released from active duty on 10 January 1946. His Enlisted Record and Report of Separation – Honorable Discharge does not show award of the Purple Heart. In item 34, Wounds Received in Action, of that form the word, “none” is entered.
The documents that the applicant submits with his request show that he sustained a fracture to the base of his right little finger on 26 February 1943 at Fort Riley, Kansas, while on authorized duty running the obstacle course, when he tripped and fell forward on his right hand. Another document that the applicant submits shows that he injured his left big toe on 3 December 1942. Apparently both those injuries occurred at Fort Riley.
The applicant had made previous application to this Board for award of the Purple Heart, but was informed on 14 December 2001 that his records were not available, and thus, his application was closed without action.
Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides 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 and the applicant has not submitted any, to show that he was wounded as the result of hostile action. Consequently, he cannot be awarded the Purple Heart.
2. The applicant has submitted neither probative evidence nor a convincing argument in support of his request.
3. 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 that requirement.
4. 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.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
__JLP___ __BJE __ __TL ___ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2002069633 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020521 |
| 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. | 107.00 |
| 2. | 61 |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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