| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Deborah L. Brantley | Senior Analyst |
| Mr. Curtis L. Greenway | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Regan K. Smith | Member | |
| Mr. Donald P. Hupman, Jr. | Member |
2. The applicant requests that his military records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal. He states that he was wounded in September 1944 but never received the Purple Heart. He also notes that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal but it was never entered on his separation document. In support of his request he submits a copy of his separation document and a copy of a 1951 letter from the Office of The Adjutant General indicating that he had been awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his "exemplary conduct in ground combat…during the Northern France Campaign…."
3. The applicant's records were apparently lost or destroyed during the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. Information contained herein was reconstructed entirely from documents provided by the applicant.
4. The applicant entered active duty on 9 October 1940 and arrived in the European Theater of Operations in September 1941. While overseas he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and, according to the 1951 letter from the Office of The Adjutant General, the Bronze Star Medal on 25 August 1944. The award was confirmed in orders issued by the 10th Infantry Regiment.
5. There were no medical records available to the Board. However, item 34 (wounds received in action) on the applicant's War Department Adjutant General Office Form 53-55 (Enlisted Records and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) indicates the applicant was wounded on 12 September 1944 while in France. There is no indication he was ever awarded the Purple Heart.
6. The applicant returned to the United States in August 1945 and on 4 October 1945 was honorably discharged as a result of demobilization.
7. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for wounds 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.
8. 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 such 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. Awards of the Bronze Star Medal, based on the Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat Medal Badge, are commonly referred to as a conversion award.
9. A review of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) notes the 10th Infantry Regiment, the unit to which the applicant was assigned at the time he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for the period 9 through
15 September 1944 and granted occupation credit in Germany. As such he is entitled to the foreign decoration and the Army of Occupation Medal with "Germany" clasp.
10. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, for award of the World War II Victory Medal (WWII Victory Medal). It is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946, both dates inclusive.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. Although there are no medical records available, the Board is satisfied that the entry in item 34 of the applicant's separation document is sufficient to conclude that he was wounded as a result of hostile action during World War II and as such, should be awarded the Purple Heart. The wound would have occurred during the period the applicant's unit was awarded the French Croix de Guerre, further confirming the likelihood that the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action.
2. The evidence also confirms that the applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in August 1944 for his actions during the Northern France Campaign. His records should be corrected accordingly.
3. The Board also notes that the applicant was awarded a Combat Infantryman Badge during World War II and as such, is entitled to a Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award based on that badge. His records should be corrected accordingly.
4. The evidence indicates that the applicant was a member of the 10th Infantry Regiment while in August 1944 when he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. The Board believes it is probable that he was assigned to that unit until his July 1945 when he departed Europe enroute to the United States. That unit was awarded the French Croix de Guerre and an Army of Occupation Medal with "Germany" clasp. It would be appropriate, and in the interest of justice to correct the applicant's records to reflect those awards, in addition to the World War II Victory Medal.
5. In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:
a. by awarding the individual concerned the Purple Heart for wounds sustained on 12 September 1944;
b. by showing that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in August 1944 for his actions during the Northern France Campaign;
c. by awarding him a Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award based on his award of the Combat Infantryman Badge; and
d. by showing that he is entitled to the French Croix de Guerre, the Army of Occupation Medal with "Germany" clasp, and the World War II Victory Medal.
BOARD VOTE:
__CLG __ __RKS__ __DPH __ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
___Curtis L. Greenway_____
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2002076736 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20021031 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | YYYYMMDD |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.00 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120008601
The applicant's military service records are not available to the Board for review. The evidence of record shows: a. the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart and was held as a POW; b. general orders awarded the applicant's unit the: * Presidential Unit Citation * French Croix de Guerre * Belgian Fourragere * Netherlands Orange Lanyard c. the applicant is advised that there is no individual emblem presented to or worn by former Soldiers who were in a unit cited once by the French...
ARMY | BCMR | CY1997 | 9709884C070209
The applicant requests correction of his military records to reflect award of the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, World War II Victory Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Heroic Adventurous Achievement with V-Device, campaign ribbons for Normandy, Northern France and Rhineland and all other medals and ribbons he is entitled. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that World War II holders of the Combat Infantryman Badge are entitled to award of Bronze Star Medal. c....
ARMY | BCMR | CY1997 | 9709884
The applicant requests correction of his military records to reflect award of the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, World War II Victory Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, “Heroic Adventurous Achievement with V-Device”, campaign ribbons for Normandy, Northern France and Rhineland and all other medals and ribbons he is entitled. Based on the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award. The available...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090014372
The applicant provides, in support of his application, copies of his WD AGO Form 53-55; general orders awarding him the Silver Star and the Purple Heart; a letter dated 25 April 1945 informing him that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge; and an award certificate for the Bronze Star Medal, dated 14 January 1992. The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he: a. was inducted into the Army of the United States on 28 July 1942. b. entered active duty on 11 August 1942; c. served in the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 040007024C070208
The former Soldier’s military records are not available to the Board for review. The evidence also shows that the applicant’s father is entitled to a Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award based on his Combat Infantryman Badge, and the World War II Victory Medal. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected: a. by showing that the former Soldier is entitled to the French Croix de Guerre and the Army of Occupation Medal...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070012658
There are no orders or other evidence authorizing award of the Silver Star to the applicant. The applicant's 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 second Oak Leaf Cluster for wear on his already awarded Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; b. showing, that in addition to the awards shown on his Transcript of Military Record, his...
ARMY | DRB | CY2005 | 20050010589
The FSM is therefore entitled to correction of his military records to show this foreign unit award. The FSM is therefore entitled to correction of his military records to show this unit award. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding the FSM the Purple Heart, for wounds he sustained, on 12 August 1944, in combat in France during World War II, and adding this award to his WD AGO Form 53-55; b....
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 2004103785C070208
The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, Honorable Discharge, with an effective date of 21 December 1945 shows, in Item 33 (Decorations and Citations), that he was awarded the Purple Heart; the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; the Good Conduct Medal; the World War II Victory Medal, and a bronze service arrowhead [correctly known as a...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090004023
The FSM's military records are not available to the Board for review. The applicant contends that the FSM's records should be corrected to show award of the French Fourragere, a silver service star on his European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, and the National Defense Service Medal. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding the FSM the Bronze Star...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110004243
The FSM's military service records are not available to the Board for review. Therefore, it would be appropriate to correct the FSM's records to show award of the Bronze Star Medal. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. issuing orders and a DA Form 4980-10 (Purple Heart Certificate) awarding the FSM the Purple Heart for wounds received in action in the European Theater of Operations on 27 February 1945; b....