| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Hubert S. Shaw, Jr. | Analyst |
| Ms. Joann H. Langston | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Thomas B. Redfern | Member | |
| Mr. Roger W. Able | Member |
2. The applicant requests award of the Purple Heart.
3. The applicant states that he was hospitalized for “trench foot” during World War II and the current military awards regulation now awards the Purple Heart for this injury.
4. The applicant’s military records show that he entered active duty on 9 December 1943 and served in European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 25 October 1944 to 6 May 1946. He was honorably separated from active duty on 25 May 1946; however, he entered active duty again on 18 October 1951 and served in the Korean War. The applicant was honorably separated from this period of active duty on 13 February 1953.
5. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation), which is authenticated in his own hand, does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award. Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 contains the entry, “NONE.”
6. The applicant provided a copy of a page of administrative remarks from his WD AGO Form 24 (Service Record) which states that, on 7 March 1945, the applicant was diagnosed with “Trench foot bilateral mod” [moderate] and was disqualified from full duty because of trench foot.
7. The Board noted that the applicant was also entitled to correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows entitlement to the Combat Infantryman Badge and his pay records show award of combat infantry pay. A DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards) shows the applicant has already received award of the Bronze Star Medal based on the Combat Infantryman Badge, but it has not been entered on his WD AGO Form 53-55.
8. Army Regulation 600-8-22 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. Paragraph 2-8b(5)(a) of this regulation states, in part, that “Frostbite or trench foot injuries” do not “qualify for award of the Purple Heart.”
9. While award of the Purple Heart for frostbite injuries is currently prohibited, such injuries were previously a basis for the award. Until 23 August 1951, Army Regulation 600-45, which governed the award of Army decorations, stated that for the purpose of considering an award of the Purple Heart, a “wound” is defined as an injury to any part of the body from an outside force, element, or agent sustained while in action in the face of the armed enemy or as a result of a hostile act of such enemy. An “element” pertains to weather and the award of this decoration to personnel who were severely frostbitten while actually engaged in combat is authorized.
10. 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.
11. The Board also noted that the applicant may be entitled to award of the Korean War Service Medal for his service during the Korean War. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Korean War, the Government of the Republic of Korea issued the Korean War Service Medal to pay tribute to eligible Korean War veterans for their historic endeavors to preserve the freedom of the Republic of Korea and the free world. On 20 August 1999, the Department of Defense approved acceptance and wear of this foreign award. The Department of Defense has assigned responsibility to the Department of the Air Force for distribution of the Korean War Service Medal to eligible veterans of all services. In order to assist the applicant, the Board is furnishing him with a copy of the Department of the Air Force administrative instructions for requesting award of the Korean War Service Medal. When the Korean War Service Medal is 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 unit award to his DD Form 214.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. Records show the applicant was diagnosed and treated for moderate trench foot during World War II. However, contrary to the applicant’s contention, trench foot was not then and is not now a basis for award of the Purple Heart. At the time in question, frostbite was a basis for award of the Purple Heart. However, in the absence of evidence that the applicant was diagnosed with frostbite, there is insufficient evidence upon which to base award of the Purple Heart in this case.
2. The applicant received the Combat Infantryman Badge during World War II; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.
3. 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 award of the Bronze Star Medal on the WD AGO Form
53-55 of the individual concerned
2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
__JHL__ __JBR__ __RWA__ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
__Ms. Joann H. Langston__
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2002071595 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020709 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | YYYYMMDD |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | MR SCHNEIDER |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0000.0000 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003085443C070212
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. The regulation also specifically states that trench foot will not be considered as meriting award of the Purple Heart. However, there is no evidence of record available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows that he was diagnosed with frostbite during World War II.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002082244C070215
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. Also, the Board notes that the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows one bronze service star as an authorized award. Medical evidence of record shows the applicant was diagnosed with trench foot on 22 October 1944.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002072655C070403
The applicant requests correction of his records to show the second award of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal. In support of his application, he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation), his Honorable Discharge Certificate, a record of hospitalization, and a newspaper article. Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002072137C070403
A medical entry dated 5 November 1945 shows he had a history of frostbite in January 1945 and trench feet in April 1945. Army Regulation 600-8-22, dated 25 March 1995, in pertinent part, states: “(5) Examples of injuries or wounds which clearly do not qualify for award of the Purple Heart are as follows: (a) Frostbite or trench foot injuries.” The evidence of record appears to indicate that the severity of the applicant’s cold weather injury was more the result of trench foot (normally not...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110023400
The applicant's military records are not available to the Board for review. Regrettably, there is insufficient evidence on which to award the Purple Heart in this case. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding him the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge; b. adding the Bronze Star Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and two bronze service stars for wear on his...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140016914
The applicant, the sister of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests correction of her late brother's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) to show award of the Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal, and Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp. Therefore, he is authorized award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp and his WD AGO Form 53-55 should be corrected to show this award. As a result, the Board recommends that...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120006206
The applicant's military records are not available to the Board for review. The available medical records show that the applicant was diagnosed with trench foot at the time in question by competent military medical authorities. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned to show the Purple Heart.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110024803
The applicants military records are not available to the Board for review. There is no evidence in the available record that shows the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action during 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 him the Combat Infantryman Badge effective 30 April 1945; b. awarding him the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge); and c....
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001053140C070420
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. Executive Order 11016, dated 25 April 1962, provided more latitude with respect to award of the Purple Heart to prisoners of war, as well as the authority to award the decoration to wounded soldiers even in the absence of a formal declaration of war. The applicant was awarded the Prisoner of War Medal; therefore, he is...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060000586C070205
In support of his application, the applicant submitted a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge. The applicant provided no service medical records to show he was hospitalized to receive medical treatment for frostbite or frozen feet during 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 Bronze Star Medal based on his...