| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Deborah L. Brantley | Senior Analyst |
| Mr. Luther L. Santiful | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Paula Mokulis | Member | |
| Mr. Donald P. Hupman, Jr. | Member |
2. The applicant requests, in effect, that his record be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart. He states that he was hospitalized for a "broken leg & cold injury to [his]." He also notes that he was awarded the Purple Heart while hospitalized. In support of his request he submits a copy of his World War II separation document.
3. The applicant's military personnel records were apparently lost or destroyed during the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center. Information contained herein was reconstructed from alternative sources, including information contain on the separation document provided by the applicant.
4. The applicant entered active duty on 21 January 1944 and arrived in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations in October 1944. According to information contained in files maintained by the Office of The Surgeon General, commonly referred to as SGO File, the applicant was hospitalized on 25 January 1945 with a sprained ankle. The applicant's injury was recorded as a "battle injury." The injury is also recorded in item 24 (wounds received in action) on his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge). In addition to his ankle injury, the applicant was also hospitalized for an intestinal infection and membrane inflammation. Beyond the information contained in the SGO File, there were no other medical records available to the Board, or provided by the applicant.
5. As a result of the applicant's medical conditions he apparently remained in a medical status, returned to the United States in May 1945 and was discharged under a certificate of disability for discharge on 6 October 1945. His separation document does not reflect award of the Purple Heart.
6. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for wounds 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 by a medical officer, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.
7. Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides that the World War II Victory Medal is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The evidence confirms that the applicant sustained an injury to his ankle as a result of hostile action on 25 January 1945 and as such should be awarded the Purple Heart and his records corrected accordingly.
2. The Board notes that the applicant is also entitled to the World War II Victory Medal based on his service during World War II and that decoration should be added to his records.
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:
a. by awarding the individual concerned the Purple Heart for an injury sustained on 25 January 1945; and
b. by showing that he is entitled to the World War II Victory Medal.
BOARD VOTE:
__LLS __ ___PM___ __DPH__ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
___ Luther L. Santiful____
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2002070454 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020806 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | YYYYMMDD |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.00 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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