| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Edmund P. Mercanti | Analyst |
| Mr. Fred N. Eichorn | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Hubert O. Fry | Member | |
| Ms. Marla J. N. Troup | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: That his Purple Heart (PH) be added to his separation document.
APPLICANT STATES: He was wounded by shrapnel in November or December 1944 in Northern France. He was awarded the PH, but it wasn’t included on his separation document.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records could not be located and are presumed to have been destroyed in the fire at the records repository at St. Louis, Missouri, in 1973. The following information was derived from alternative sources.
He was inducted and entered active duty on 13 October 1942. He was awarded the military occupational specialty of anti-aircraft gunner and was promoted to the rank of private first class.
He departed for the European Theater of Operations on 2 January 1944. While stationed in Holland, the applicant was hospitalized. His company’s morning report said he was “hit by shrapnel from shell during test firing of gun near AA position. Seriousness of injury undetermined. [Line of duty] non-battle casualty.”
The applicant returned to the continental United States on 28 October 1945 and was honorably released from active duty on 3 November 1945. His separation document shows that he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal with clasp, the WW II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 5 bronze service stars. Item 34 of his separation document, Wounds Received in Action, is blank.
Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the PH 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. Individuals wounded or killed as a result of “friendly fire” in the “heat of battle” will be awarded the PH as long as the “friendly” projectile or agent was released with full intent of inflicting damage or destroying enemy troops or equipment.
DISCUSSION: Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record and applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:
1. The applicant was wounded by friendly fire while an anti-aircraft gun was being test fired. His hospitalization was classified on his unit’s morning report as non-battle related.
2. As such, the applicant does not meet the criteria for award of the PH in accordance with AR 600-8-2, including the provision for this award for wounds inflicted by friendly fire.
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
___fne___ ___hof __ ____mjt _ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2002082586 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20030617 |
| 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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