| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Nancy L. Amos | Analyst |
| Mr. Arthur A. Omartian | Chairperson | ||
| Mr. John P. Infante | Member | ||
| Ms. Regan K. Smith | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: That the Purple Heart be awarded to his deceased father, a former service member (FSM).
APPLICANT STATES: That his father, while serving with Company A, 359th Engineers in Belgium, drove his truck over a land mine and as a result lost the sight in his right eye. He continued to serve his country until he was discharged in 1945. He was never put in for the Purple Heart. His father's records were destroyed in 1973 and his Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical records were lost in Oakland, CA. The only verification of his injury may be in Office of The Surgeon General Hospital Admission Cards.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The FSM's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire in 1973. Information contained herein was obtained from alternate sources.
The FSM was inducted into the Army on 26 January 1943 and entered active service on 2 February 1943. He arrived in the European Theater of Operations on 8 July 1943 where he served as a light truck driver and departed on 19 August 1945. He was demobilized on 15 October 1945. His Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, WD AGO Form 53-55, item 33 (Decorations and Citations) shows he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with four bronze battle stars, four overseas service bars, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Meritorious Unit Award. It does not show award of the Purple Heart. Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) contains the entry, "None." The FSM signed the WD AGO Form 53-55.
The historical files of Company A, 359th Engineers were reviewed at the National Archives in College Park, MD. The review failed to identify the FSM as being entitled to award of the Purple Heart.
A search of Office of The Surgeon General Hospital Admission Cards revealed that there were no records pertaining to the FSM.
On 19 December 1945, the VA awarded the FSM service-connected disability compensation for an eye condition (the loss of the use of one eye) effective 16 October 1945. Around 1975, his disability compensation was increased from 70 percent to 100 percent and included additional special monthly compensation over the 100 percent rate because of blindness.
The FSM died on 6 November 1987.
Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides policy and criteria concerning individual military decorations. In pertinent part, it states that the Purple Heart is awarded to any member of an Armed Force who has been wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States. The wound must have required treatment by a medical officer and records of medical treatment for wounds or injuries received in action must have been made a matter of official record.
Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides for award of the World War II Victory Medal for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 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. The Board noted the FSM's loss of sight during his service in World War II; however, there is insufficient evidence to show he lost his sight as the result of enemy action. It is recognized that the VA awarded the FSM service-connected disability compensation due to the loss of the use of one eye; however, the VA documentation does not corroborate the applicant's explanation of the cause of the loss of his father's sight.
2. The FSM met the eligibility criteria for award of the World War II Victory Medal and that award will be administratively added to his WD AGO Form 53-55.
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.
NOTE: The Board requests that the Army Review Board Agency's Support Division amend the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 to add the World War II Victory Medal.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
__AAO__ ___JPI___ __REK __ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2002075225 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 2002/11/14 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | DENY |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0015 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2015 | 20150003440
The applicant requests that his deceased father, a former service member (FSM), be awarded the Purple Heart (PH). His father did not receive a PH for combat wounds he received towards the end of World War II in July 1945 in the Pacific Theater. The only records available to this Board are the records provided by the applicant.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100015287
The applicant, the son of the former service member (FSM), requests that his father be awarded the Purple Heart for being wounded in combat on 16 December 1944 and correction of his father's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) for the period ending 23 June 1945 to show award of the Purple Heart and all awards and decorations earned. The FSM's military records are not available to the Board for review. As a result, the Board recommends that all...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050005134C070206
The FSM is therefore entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal based on the special provisions of the awards regulation that considered award of the Combat Infantryman Badge to be a citation in orders. 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. deleting the European-African-Middle Eastern...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100008803
The applicant states the FSM's discharge document does not show award of the Purple Heart. In addition, the applicant has not provided any medical evidence from the FSM's enlistment period that shows the FSM sustained combat wounds. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. deleting the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal from the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 and b. adding the European-African-Middle...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050002291C070206
The applicant, the nephew of a World War II veteran, requests correction of his uncle’s records to show award of the Purple Heart for wounds sustained while a prisoner of war (POW) in Germany. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded to any member of an Armed Force who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after 5 April 1917, has been wounded or killed as a result of...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130016863
The applicant also provided a copy of and the FSM's available record contains the following: a. The available evidence shows the FSM was wounded in action on 21 or 22 January 1945 in Belgium, was hospitalized, and discharged with a certificate of disability on 23 August 1945. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: * Awarding the FSM the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 22 January 1945 * Adding to...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120009047
The applicant, the son of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests, on behalf of his father: * award of the World War II Victory Medal * award of the Army of Occupation Medal * correction of his father's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge) to show these awards 2. His father should have been awarded these awards. The FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he served in World War II during a qualifying period for award of the World War II Victory...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140017017
The applicant requests correction of the records of his deceased father, a former service member (FSM), to show he was wounded in action and awarded the Purple Heart. He also requests, in effect, correction of the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separations Honorable Service) to show: * the FSM's prisoner of war (POW) status * Purple Heart and POW Medal 2. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110012477
Army Regulation 600-45 (Decorations), effective 13 October 1949, provided in pertinent part, that 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. The entry in item 34 of the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 which shows he was wounded in action on 7...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070005315
The applicant, the daughter of the deceased former service member (FSM), requests correction of her father's service records to show award of the Purple Heart for injuries received during WWII. The FSMs military records are not available to the Board for review. The FSM's daughter provided an undated letter titled Head Injury of the FSM during WWII.