| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. W. W. Osborn, Jr. | Analyst |
| Mr. John N. Slone | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Roger W. Able | Member | |
| Ms. Regan K. Smith | Member |
2. The applicant requests that he be awarded the Purple Heart for a wound sustained in April 1945.
3. The applicant states that he was knocked unconscious by a German bullet that penetrated his helmet but not the helmet liner. A medic treated him. He stayed with his unit and slowly recovered. He had a very sore knot on his forehead for a few days and still has "an irregular bullet shaped impression on his forehead." In support of his request he submits statements from comrades-in-arms.
4. The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973. Information herein was obtained from reconstructed personnel records.
5. He was inducted on 3 April 1944, trained as an infantryman and arrived in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) on 3 March 1945. He served there with B Company, 387th Infantry Regiment until 19 June 1945. He transferred to the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) via the United States. He served in the PTO from 25 September 1945 until 20 April 1946 and was separated as a sergeant on 5 May 1946.
6. His WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) shows his authorized awards as the Good Conduct Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one bronze service star, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal, the World War Victory Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Marksman Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar.
7. Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained in action against an enemy or 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. The regulation 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 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.
9. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows that the applicant's unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for the period 3 April 1944 to 14 May 1945 by 97th Infantry Division General Order Number 32, dated 28 May 1945. This publication also shows that the 387th Infantry Regiment was authorized occupation credit for Germany.
10. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the American Campaign Medal. This campaign medal is awarded for qualifying service in the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946. Qualifying service includes permanent assignment outside the continental United States, duty as a crewmember aboard a vessel sailing ocean waters for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or duty outside the continental United States as a passenger or in a temporary duty status for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by a corps commander or higher, or service within the continental United States for an aggregate period of one year.
11. An individual, who identifies himself as the applicant's company commander, confirms the applicant assertions and adds that there was a small amount of blood from the wound. He reports that he has related the story many times over the years, but had forgotten the soldier's name until he met the applicant at an October 2000 reunion. He recommends that the applicant be awarded the Purple Heart and that, if necessary, the regulatory criteria be waived. Another veteran, the first sergeant, relates the same story and says the applicant "should have been recommended for the Purple Heart…the matter was overlooked. I feel an embarrassment has happened." A third former soldier, the platoon sergeant, also supports the applicant's request.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. Although the circumstances preclude the availability of a record of treatment, the Board is satisfied that sufficient evidence exists to show that the applicant was wounded as the result of enemy action.
2. The applicant should be awarded the Purple Heart.
3. The applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and is entitled to an award of the Bronze Star Medal.
4. The applicant's unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for a period that included the applicant's tour of duty in the ETO. He should be authorized this award.
5. The applicant served within the continental United States for an aggregate period of more than one year and is entitled to the American Campaign Medal.
6. The applicant's previous authorization of the Army of Occupation Medal was based on service in Germany. The Germany Clasp should be added to this award.
7. In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, correcting the applicant’s records as recommended below will correct errors.
RECOMMENDATION:
That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the individual concerned the Purple Heart for a wound sustained in April 1945 and by showing that, in addition to those listed on his WD AGO Form 53-55, his authorized awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Meritorious Unit Citation and the Germany Clasp for wear on the Army of Occupation Medal.
BOARD VOTE:
__JNS___ __RWA__ _RKS___ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
__ _John N. Slone_________
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2002082110 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20030821 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT PLUS) |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.00 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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