| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Nancy L. Amos | Analyst |
| Ms. Karol A. Kennedy | Chairperson | ||
| Mr. Arthur O. Omartian | Member | ||
| Mr. Raymond J. Wagner | Member |
2. The applicant requests, in effect, that the Purple Heart be added to his Report of Separation, WD AGO Form 53-55.
3. The applicant states that the Purple Heart is not listed on his WD AGO Form 53-55. It was issued to him around 1984.
4. The applicant’s military records show he was inducted into the Army and entered active service on 29 April 1944. He arrived in England on 26 November 1944.
5. A medical document shows that the applicant reported on sick call on 19 January 1945 with a complaint of numbness and pain in his feet. A few days earlier he had been in water up to his waist and was unable to get dry socks. He was diagnosed as having trench foot. He was medically evacuated to the States on an unknown date. A medical entry dated 5 November 1945 shows he had a history of frostbite in January 1945 and trench feet in April 1945. An unidentified medical document contains the entry, “Purple Heart Yes.” On 9 November 1945, he was found to be unfit for duty because of trench foot, bilateral, moderately severe. He was discharged with a certificate of disability on 29 November 1945.
6. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he was awarded two bronze (service) stars, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the American Theater Ribbon, the European Theater of Operations Ribbon, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Lapel Button.
7. Surgeon General Hospital Admission Cards show the applicant was hospitalized on 19 January 1945 for a battle injury, frostbite.
8. On 26 March 1981, the U. S. Army Reserve Components Personnel and Administration Center authorized issuance to the applicant of, in addition to the awards listed on his WD AGO Form 53-55, the Bronze Star Medal (based upon award of the Combat Infantryman Badge), the Purple Heart, and the World War II Victory Medal.
9. Army Regulation 600-45, then in effect, provided, in pertinent part, for the award of the Purple Heart to personnel severely frostbitten while actually engaged in combat.
10. 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.”
CONCLUSIONS:
1. 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 entitling a soldier to award of the Purple Heart) rather than frostbite; however, there is evidence to show that a decision was made in 1945 that he was entitled to the Purple Heart and the Surgeon General Hospital Admission Cards show he was hospitalized in January 1945 for frostbite (presumably severe enough to result in his disability separation and therefore entitling him to award of the Purple Heart under the criteria at the time). It would therefore be equitable to amend his WD AGO Form 53-55 to add the Purple Heart.
2. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 should also be amended to add the Bronze Star Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
3. In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 be amended to show he was wounded in January 1945 and to add the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, and the World War II Victory Medal.
BOARD VOTE:
__KAK__ __AOA__ __RJW__ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
___Karol A. Kennedy___
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2002072137 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 2002/07/02 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0015 |
| 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 | 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 | 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.
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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 | CY2002 | 2002072391C070403
The applicant states that his discharge paper does not reflect award of the Purple Heart that he received in France. 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.” It is noted that the applicant was hospitalized for 55 days for a cold weather injury, and the Board did consider the possibility that the applicant had suffered a frostbite injury, which would entitle him to the Purple Heart.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060011004
The applicant provides a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge), with an effective date of 21 August 1945; Army of the United States Honorable Discharge Certificate, dated 21 August 1945; Disabled American Veterans, National Service Office, St. Petersburg, Florida, letter, dated 14 July 2006; and 4 pages of VISTA Electronic Medical Documentation, Progress Notes, printed on 26 January 2006. The applicant was awarded the Combat...
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The applicant requests that the military records of her father, a former service member (FSM), be corrected to show award of the Purple Heart. The FSMs military records are not available to the Board for review. Therefore, the Board requests that the CMSD-St. Louis administratively correct the records of the individual concerned to show award of the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, one bronze service star to be affixed to the European-African-Middle Eastern...
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ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 2004105559C070208
The applicant contends that his records should be corrected to show award of the Purple Heart. The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55, which was authenticated in his own hand at the time of his separation from the Service, does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award. Therefore, the Board requests that the CMSD-St. Louis administratively correct the records of the individual concerned to show that, in addition to the awards already listed on his WD AGO Form 53-55, he was awarded the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002082756C070215
The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein. EVIDENCE OF RECORD : The applicant's military records were not available. It does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award.