| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Wanda L. Waller | Analyst |
| Mr. Arthur A. Omartian | Chairperson | |
| Mr. John P. Infante | Member | |
| Ms. Regan K. Smith | Member |
2. The applicant requests correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to show award of the Purple Heart.
3. The applicant states that he was wounded in combat in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations in 1945. In support of his application, he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-33 and a Company Morning Report, dated 10 May 1945.
4. The applicant’s military records were destroyed or lost during the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973. Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show that the applicant was inducted on
24 January 1941. He served as a light machine gunner in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations from 17 April 1942 through 10 May 1945 and was honorably discharged on 5 August 1945.
5. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55, which was authenticated in his own hand, does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award. Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) on his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the entry, “NONE”.
6. There is no evidence in the available records that shows the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart or was wounded as a result of hostile action during World War II.
7. The historical files of the Company G, 185th Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division located at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland, failed to identify the applicant as being entitled to award of the Purple Heart.
8. In support of his claim for award of the Purple Heart, the applicant provided a Company G, 185th Infantry Regiment Morning Report dated 10 May 1945. This report indicates that his status was absent due to sickness and that he was reassigned from the 115th Medical Battalion to duty effective 9 May 1945 to await further orders for a 45 day furlough.
9. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the Combat Infantryman Badge as an authorized award.
10. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register), dated 6 July 1961, shows, among other information, unit awards and citations authorized for units which served during World War II. This document shows the unit to which the applicant was assigned, Company G, 185th Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division, received the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for actions during the periods
7 December 1941 to 10 May 1942 or 17 October 1944 to 4 July 1945 by Department of the Army General Orders Number 47-50. This award is not shown on his discharge document.
11. 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.
12. Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides, in pertinent part, that the Bronze Star Medal is awarded for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service in military operations against an armed enemy. The Bronze Star Medal is authorized for each individual who was cited in orders or awarded a certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945 or whose achievement or service, during that period, was confirmed by documents executed prior to 1 July 1947. An award of the Combat Infantryman Badge or the Combat Medical Badge is considered to be a citation in orders. This means, in effect, that the Bronze Star Medal is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service during World War II.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The Board noted the applicant’s contention that he was wounded in combat in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations in 1945. However, there is no evidence, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows that he was wounded or treated for wounds as a result of hostile action during World War II.
2. The applicant signed his discharge document on 5 August 1945 attesting to the fact that he was not wounded in action and was not entitled to award of the Purple Heart.
3. The Board noted the Company Morning Report provided by the applicant in support of his claim for award of the Purple Heart. However, this report indicates that the applicant was absent due to sickness, not injured as a result of hostile action.
4. Based on the foregoing, the Board determined that there is insufficient evidence on which to base award of the Purple Heart in this case.
5. The applicant received the Combat Infantryman Badge during World War II. Therefore, the applicant is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge) and correction of his military records to show this award.
6. The applicant’s unit received the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation while he was assigned to it. Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his military records to show this unit citation.
7. In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge) and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
AAO___ JPI_____ RKS_____ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
__Arthur A. Omartian___
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2002070287 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20021114 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0015 |
| 2. | 107.0000 |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050003154C070206
The "SGO Files Report," was reviewed for any information that the applicant was wounded in action while he served in the PTO. The evidence shows that the applicant was wounded in action two times while he served in World War II. 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, with oak leaf cluster, or the second wound he sustained in action against the enemy on Cebu Island,...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060003799C070205
There is no evidence in the available records that shows the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart or was wounded as a result of hostile action during World War II. Evidence shows that the applicant’s records contain administrative errors which do not require action by the Board. Therefore, the Board requests that the CMSD-St. Louis administratively correct the records of the individual concerned to show that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050007253C070206
Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, authorizes award of a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation, in DA Pamphlet 672-1, or in item 32 of WD AGO Form 53-55 and states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. Records show the applicant served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater; therefore, his records should be corrected to show award of the Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal....
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002080193C070215
The Board considered the following evidence: The applicant requests correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to show award of the Purple Heart. The applicant signed his discharge document on 2 June 1946 attesting to the fact that he was not wounded in action and was not entitled to the Purple Heart.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003084073C070212
The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55, shows no award of the Purple Heart in block 33 (Decorations and Citations). The same regulation also provides for award of the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. The 160th Infantry Regiment was awarded campaign credit for participation in the Luzon, Southern Philippines, and Bismarck Archipelago campaigns during the time the applicant was member of the unit.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130010144
The evidence of record shows the FSM was wounded in battle in Luzon on or around 26 May 1945. His unit was awarded occupation credit for service in Japan; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to add the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. deleting from his WD AGO Form 53-55 the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; b. awarding him the: *...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003087236C070212
The applicant requests his records be corrected by showing he was wounded in action and by awarding him the Purple Heart.3. His WD AGO Form 53-55 does not list the Purple Heart as an authorized award and block 34 (Wounds) states "NONE". In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, correcting the applicant’s records as recommended below will correct an error.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 20040007991C070208
The applicant’s military records are not available to the Board for review. As a result, the Board recommends that the WD AGO Form 53-55 of the individual concerned be corrected by showing he is authorized the Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars and one arrowhead; the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one bronze service star; and the Bronze Star Medal (based upon award of the Combat Infantryman Badge). The Board further determined that the evidence presented...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090012967
The applicants military records are not available to the Board for review. The applicant contends that he was wounded in Luzon, Philippines in March or April 1945 and contemporaneous medical evidence of record shows he was wounded in action (shrapnel wound to right knee). As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding him the Purple Heart for wounds received in action in March/April 1945 in the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120001148
The FSM's military service records are not available to the Board for review. Therefore, it would be appropriate to correct the FSM's records to show award of the Purple Heart. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. issuing orders and a DA Form 4980-10 (Purple Heart Certificate) awarding the FSM the Purple Heart for wounds received in action in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations on 19 May 1945; b....