| 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 |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: That his records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart and a "meritorious award."
APPLICANT STATES: He does not remember when he "shed blood" but states that "the Germans blew up every bridge on [the] river except one…." He notes that his unit was involved in building a "Bailey Bridge" and he was told that he and his men would be recommended for a "meritorious award." He also states that he lost a lot of men "from enemy fire" and that he "shed blood" and almost lost an eye. He submits no evidence in support of his request.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records were likely lost or destroyed during the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center. Information contained herein was reconstructed entirely from the applicant's separation document.
The applicant entered active duty on 19 October 1943 and served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations between April 1944 and December 1945. According to his separation document, and information provided by the applicant, he was assigned to the 1306th Engineers.
The applicant was discharged as a result of demobilization on 9 January 1946. His War Department Adjutant General Office Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge), which the applicant authenticated, does not indicate that he was awarded the Purple Heart and item 34 (wounds received in action) reflects "None." There were no medical records available to the Board.
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.
A review of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) notes the applicant’s unit was granted occupation credit in Germany while the applicant was a member of the organization. He is entitled to the Army of Occupation Medal with "Germany" clasp.
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 provided any, which confirms he was wounded as a result of hostile action during World War II and as such, there is no basis for an award of the Purple Heart.
2. Additionally, the Board notes that there is no evidence the applicant, or his unit, were recommended for, or awarded a "meritorious award" as a result of building a "Bailey Bridge" during World War II.
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 this 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: Officials at the ARBA Support Division in St. Louis are requested to administratively correct the applicant’s separation document to reflect award of the Army of Occupation Medal with "Germany" clasp.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
__CLG__ __RKS __ __DPH __ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2002077201 |
| 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 | DENY |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.00 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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The applicant’s military records are not available to the Board for review. His discharge document does not show that he was wounded in action or that he was awarded the Purple Heart. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by showing award of the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Army of Occupation Medal with "Germany" clasp.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080001857
The applicants military records are not available to the Board for review. Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Army of Occupation Medal, with Germany Clasp, and correction of his records to show this award. Therefore, the Board requests that the CMSD-St. Louis administratively correct the records of the individual concerned to show award of the Army of Occupation Medal, with Germany Clasp.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002073278C070403
The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein. APPLICANT REQUESTS: In effect, correction of his military records to show award of the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 23 February 1945. In support of his application, he submits a letter, dated 22 April 2002; a personal account of his injury; an eyewitness statement, dated 16 August 2001; a letter, dated 16 October 2001, from his physician; a copy of his WD...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050005534C070206
The applicant is requesting correction of an alleged error or injustice which occurred on 27 September 1945, the date of his honorable discharge. The applicant’s military records are not available for review. The applicant contends that he is entitled to correction of his records to show award of the Purple Heart because he was given the Purple Heart for shrapnel injuries he sustained while fighting in Germany in 1944.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110015771
The applicant's complete military record is not available to the Board for review. The applicant states he was wounded twice during his World War II service, and that record of his treatment at Lovell General Hospital prior to his discharge substantiates his claim. He provides an x-ray taken at a VA hospital in 2011, which he states shows evidence of shrapnel.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120018342
The applicant's military records are not available to the Board for review. His available records do not show he sustained a concussion during World War II but even if they did, the change is only retroactive to 11 September 2001. d. Notwithstanding his sincerity, there is no evidence in his record that shows he was wounded or injured as a result of hostile action or treated for such wounds. Regrettably, absent evidence which conclusively shows he sustained wounds or injuries as a result...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110010134
The applicant requests correction of the records of his deceased father, a former service member (FSM), to show battle and campaign credits, wounds received in action, and the Purple Heart. He states the FSM's discharge records do not show the proper entries for being wounded in action or the Purple Heart. The criteria for award of the Purple Heart specify that accidental injuries, unless caused by enemy fire, do not justify the award.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001064325C070421
The applicant’s records contain a 13 June 2001 letter to a Member of Congress wherein he contends that he was awarded two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Star Medals during World War II. There is no indication in the records available to the Board that the applicant was recommended for or received a second award of the Bronze Star Medal. There are no orders in the applicant’s personnel records which show that he was awarded a second Bronze Star Medal for his actions on or about 10 January 1945.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002074971C070403
In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice. The applicant requests...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060012162
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 6 March 2007 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20060012162 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 applicant provides: a. The applicants military records are not available to the Board for review.