| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Vic Whitney | Analyst |
| Ms. Margaret K. Patterson | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Mae M. Bullock | Member | |
| Ms. Jennifer L. Prater | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: That his records be corrected to show an award of the Purple Heart (PH).
APPLICANT STATES: That he was wounded by shrapnel in the Spring of 1943 in Tunisia. He was treated in a military hospital and the shrapnel was removed. The nurse placed Purple Heart medals on the blankets of all the wounded soldiers and also gave him his piece of shrapnel. All of his awards were stolen when he returned from Europe. He has had all of them replaced except the Purple Heart, which was denied. His Purple Heart is important for future medical treatment by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center. Several documents available from alternate sources show that he enlisted and entered active duty on 13 February 1942. He was trained as a radio operator and was assigned to the European Theater from 8 November 1942 through 13 June 1945.
His Enlisted Record and Report of Separation shows that he was discharged from active duty on 13 September 1945 in the grade of sergeant. He had participated in five campaigns and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal. Block 34 (Wounds Received in Action) states "None." The applicant authenticated the form with his signature and thumb print.
A record of hospital admissions provided by the Office of the Surgeon General show treatment for inflammation of the pharynx (airway passage). This is the only record of hospitalization or medical treatment available for the applicant.
A search of the available unit records at the National Archives failed to locate any information that the applicant was wounded or awarded the Purple Heart.
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 by a medical officer, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.
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 medical evidence of record, or sufficient evidence submitted by the applicant, to show that he was wounded or injured as a result of enemy action and entitled to an award of the Purple Heart.
2. 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 this requirement.
3. 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.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
__mp___ __mb___ __jp____ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2002073518 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20030114 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | DENY |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.00 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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