| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Deborah L. Brantley | Senior Analyst |
| Mr. Raymond J. Wagner | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Barbara J. Ellis | Member | |
| Ms. Linda M. Barker | Member |
2. The applicant requests award of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal. He states, in a self-authored statement, that he was hit by "dirt and rocks" which were kicked up by an enemy sniper's shot which left his "right ear cut and bleeding." He states, in effect, that during the incident he told a corporal to stay behind him, "out of the snipers fire" and that he was then able to kill the sniper. He states that an officer was so happy that he told the applicant he was being put "in for a purple heart and bronze star." In support of his request he submits evidence which confirms his training as a sniper, a magazine article regarding the Rhine River crossing, and a statement from his brother relating information the applicant had told him.
3. The applicant's military personnel file was apparently lost or destroyed during the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. Information contained herein was reconstructed from alternative sources.
4. The applicant entered active duty on 15 August 1938 and arrived in the European Theater of Operations in August 1944. His separation document indicates that he performed duties as a rifleman with the 407th Infantry Regiment and that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.
5. The applicant returned to the United States in November 1945. His separation physical examination, conducted on 6 December 1945 makes no reference to any wounds or injuries sustained as a result of hostile action. Additionally, item 34 (wounds received in action) on the applicant's War Department Adjutant General Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge), which the applicant authenticated, reflects "NONE."
6. 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.
7. Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides, in pertinent part, that World War II holders of the Combat Infantryman Badge are entitled to an award of the Bronze Star Medal. Awards of the Bronze Star Medal based on the Combat Infantryman Badge are commonly referred to as conversion awards.
8. A review of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 indicates the applicant’s unit (407th Infantry Regiment) was awarded the Army Occupation Medal with “Germany” clasp while the applicant was a member of the organization. That information was omitted from his separation document.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. There is insufficient evidence medical documentation which confirms the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action during World War II and as such, there is insufficient evidence on which to base an award of the Purple Heart.
2. Although the Board was unable to confirm that the applicant was ever recommended for, or award, the Bronze Star Medal as a result of his actions during the sniper incident he related, he is entitled to an award of the Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award based on his Combat Infantryman Badge.
3. The evidence confirms the applicant is entitled to the Army Occupation Medal with “Germany” clasp. His records should be corrected accordingly.
4. In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by awarding the individual concerned the Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award based on his Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Army Occupation Medal with “Germany” clasp.
2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
__RJW__ __BJE __ __LMB_ _ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
__Raymond J. Wagner__
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2003083509 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20030408 |
| 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 | CY2002 | 2002082274C070215
In support of her claim for award of the Purple Heart, the applicant provided two newspaper articles which state that the FSM was wounded in action on 2 November in Germany. Therefore, the FSM's military records should be corrected to show award of the Purple Heart for wounds sustained on 2 November 1944 in the European Theater of Operations. Therefore, the FSM is entitled to correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.
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.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002077198C070215
The applicant requests that his records be corrected to reflect two awards of the Purple Heart and any other decorations he is entitled too. The applicant was discharged on 29 March 1946. There were no medical records available to the Board.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002077821C070215
His award of the Purple Heart confirms that he actively participated in ground combat. The Board concludes the applicant met the basic qualification requirements for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and his records should be corrected accordingly. The Board notes that based on his entitlement to the Combat Infantryman Badge, the applicant is also entitled to an award of the Bronze Star Medal as conversion award.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002076736C070215
The applicant requests that his military records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal. He also notes that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal but it was never entered on his separation document. There were no medical records available to the Board.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003083474C070212
The applicant requests that his records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart. There were no other medical records available to the Board. The evidence does confirm that the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action on 21 December 1944 and as such, is entitled to an award of the Purple Heart and to have the injury recorded in item 34 on his separation document.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 03094509C070212
The applicant requests that his records be corrected to reflect award of two Purple Hearts. The applicant’s military records are not available to the Board for review. Although there are no medical records available, the entry in item 34 of the applicant's separation document is sufficient to conclude that he was wounded on 10 February 1945 as a result of hostile action during World War II and as such, should be awarded the Purple Heart.
ARMY | BCMR | CY1996 | 9609033C070209
While his WD AGO Form 53-55 (report of separation) reflects award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and two U.S. unit decorations awarded to the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment it does not reflect award of either Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal or any foreign decorations awarded to the applicants unit. Subsequent to the applicants separation, in 1965, the U.S. Army Reserve Personnel Command awarded the applicant a Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award based on the applicants Combat...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002068367C070402
On 28 September 1945, the applicant received a disability discharge under the provisions of Army Regulation 615-361. The evidence also shows that the applicant is entitled to the World War II Victory Medal, and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp. The Board also notes that the applicant is entitled to a Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award based on his Combat Infantryman Badge and his record should be corrected to reflect that decoration.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080019134
The applicant requests, in effect, award of a second Purple Heart and all medals he may be entitled to including, if possible, the Presidential Unit Citation for his service during the war in the Ardennes, the Battle of the Bulge, and in Central Europe, and their addition to his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation). As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding the applicant the...