| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Kenneth H. Aucock | Analyst |
| Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Kathleen A. Newman | Member | |
| Mr. Richard T. Dunbar | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: Award of the Purple Heart.
APPLICANT STATES: That he was blown off a ship in June 1945 when a kamikaze plane attacked the USS Rockbridge, crushing three vertebrae in his back.
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’s WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Discharge – Honorable Discharge) shows that he was inducted into the Army on 17 March 1944. He served in the continental United States for 1 year, 3 months, and 1 day, and in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations from 24 July 1945 to 22 September 1945. He was discharged on 18 October 1945. His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the Sharpshooter Qualification Badge with rifle bar. Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) on that form contains the typed word, “None.”
The applicant’s WD AGO Form 38 (Report of Physical Examination of Enlisted Personnel Prior to Discharge, Release from Active Duty or Retirement), dated 15 October 1945, three days prior to his discharge, shows a number of ailments listed, to include sinusitis; complaints of occasional stomach pains, belches, and dizziness, swelling, untreated, Okinawa, September 1945; and complaints of occasional heart flutter, untreated, average one per week, last one last week. X-rays revealed a small polyp at the base of the right maxillary sinus, otherwise negative. A chest x-ray indicated a few minute calcification in both base, otherwise negative. That form does not indicate that the applicant had any problems with his back. It does not show that he was wounded in 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.
The American Campaign Medal is awarded for service within the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946. Service within the continental limits of the United States for an aggregate period of 1 year entitles an individual to that award.
The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal is awarded for service in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946.
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 a result of hostile action during his service in World War II. There is insufficient evidence to grant his request for award of 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.
NOTE: The Army Review Boards Agency in St. Louis will be requested to correct the applicant’s records to show award of the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
__RNW__ __KAN__ __RTD __ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2002072433 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020627 |
| 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. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002082296C070215
The Board notes that the applicant is eligible for award of the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal which are not shown on his WD AGO Form 53-55. 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. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070011969C080213
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 17 January 2008 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20070011969 I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual. The applicants military records are not available to the Board for review. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding him a...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050007624C070206
The applicant’s military records are not available to the Board for review. The medical evidence of record which shows the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action on 22 October 1944 in the Southwest Pacific is accepted as sufficient evidence on which to base award of 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 Purple Heart for wounds received in action...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070006598
State circumstances under which wounds or injuries were incurred and date of onset) of the FSM's WD AGO Form 33 (Report of Physical Examination of Enlisted Personnel Prior to Discharge, Release from Active Duty or Retirement), dated 5 July 1945, contains the entry "NO HISTORY OF MALARIA OR SYPHILIS." This campaign medal is awarded for qualifying service in the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946. Therefore, the Board requests that the CMSD-St. Louis administratively...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070005266
State circumstances under which wounds or injuries were incurred and date of onset) of the applicant's WD AGO Form 33 (Report of Physical Examination of Enlisted Personnel Prior to Discharge, Release from Active Duty or Retirement), dated 16 September 1945, contains the entry "(a) Skin condition-June 1944 363rd Station Hospital, New Guinea. The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation-Honorable Discharge), dated 17 September 1945, shows he was awarded the...
ARMY | DRB | CY2005 | 20050009621
The evidence of record, a "SGO Files Report," shows the applicant was hospitalized in the Central, South Pacific, for treatment of two diagnosed illnesses. Evidence shows that the applicant’s records contain administrative error which does not require action by the Board. Therefore, the Board requests that the CMSD-St. Louis administratively correct the records of the individual concerned by: a. awarding the applicant the Bronze Star Medal, based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge,...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003086827C070212
The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein. APPLICANT REQUESTS: Correction of his military records to show award of the Purple Heart. The Board noted the applicant’s entitlement to the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation and determined that his records should be corrected administratively.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100011327
Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 contains the entry "None." Regrettably, absent evidence which conclusively shows that the applicant sustained wounds or injuries as a result of hostile action, that he was treated by medical personnel for those wounds or injuries, and that this treatment was made a matter of official record, there is an insufficient basis for awarding the Purple Heart to the applicant. Therefore, the Board requests that the CMSD-Arlington, VA...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100011276
The applicant's reconstructed records show he is entitled to awards that are not listed on his WD AGO Form 53-55. Regrettably, absent evidence which conclusively shows that the applicant sustained wounds or injuries as a result of hostile action, that he was treated by medical personnel for those wounds or injuries, and that this treatment was made a matter of official record, there is an insufficient basis for awarding the Purple Heart to the applicant. Therefore, the Board requests that...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070006219
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...