| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mrs. Victoria A. Donaldson | Analyst |
| Ms. Jennifer L. Prater | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Arthur A. Omartian | Member | |
| Mr. Patrick H. McGann | Member |
2. The applicant requests award of the Purple Heart.
3. The applicant states in effect that, he received shrapnel wounds to his right elbow while in the Battle of the Bulge and that he was treated at the field aid station. The applicant further stated that after he received treatment for his wounds that he was returned to battle.
4. In support of his application, the applicant provided a self-authored statement, a copy of his WD AGO 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation--Honorable Discharge); a copy of his WD AGO Form 100 (Separation Qualification Record); a copy of a Department of Veterans Affairs Compensation Decision, dated 27 September 2002.
5. The applicant’s military records show that the applicant entered Active Duty on 26 September 1941. He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 16 April 1944 through 3 November 1945. The applicant was honorably discharged on 18 November 1945.
6. The applicant's WD AGO 53-55 which is authenticated in his own hand, does not show award of the Purple Heart in item 33 (decorations and Citations). Item
34 (Wounds Received in Action) of his WD AGO 53-55 contains the entry "NONE."
7. The applicant provided a copy of the Department of Veterans Affairs decisional documents that shows the following entries under the issues section: "Evaluation of left shoulder degenerative joint disease (DJD) with scar currently evaluated at 0 percent disabling." and "Evaluation of shell fragment would right elbow area currently evaluated as 0 percent disabling."
8. There is no evidence in the available records which show that the applicant was wounded or treated for wounds as a result of hostile action.
9. The applicant's records contained information from the Hospital Admission Cards created by the Office of the Surgeon General, Department of the Army. The diagnosis was listed as "Hepatitis, infectious (catarrhal jaundice)" and the circumstances were listed as "Not a traumatism."
10. There is no indication in the hospital admission cards that shows the applicant was hospitalized or treated for wounds or injuries as a result of hostile action.
11. The applicant's WD AGO 53-55 shows in item 31 (Military Qualification and Date) the entry, "Combat Infantryman."
12. The applicant's WD AGO 53-55 shows in item 33 (Decorations and Citations) award of the Bronze Star Medal.
13. 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 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.
14. The bronze oak leaf cluster is awarded to denote the second and succeeding awards of certain decorations, among which is the Bronze Star Medal.
15. Army Regulation provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound 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, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The Board considered the applicant's contention that he was wounded in the right elbow during the Battle of the Bulge.
2. The Board reviewed Department of Veterans Affairs decisional document and noted that it does not show that the applicant was wounded as a result of hostile action or that he was treated wounds as a result of hostile action.
3. There is no evidence of record available to the Board which shows that the applicant was wounded or treated for wounds as a result of hostile action during the Battle of the Bulge. Therefore, the Board determined that based on all of the foregoing, the applicant is not entitled to award of the Purple Heart.
4. Evidence of record shows that the applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.
5. Based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge the applicant is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster.
6. In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant's records, but only as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing the individual concerned was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster.
2. That so much of the application as pertains to award of the Purple Heart be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
___JLP__ __PHM__ ___AAO_ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
Ms. Jennifer L. Prater
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2003084587 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20030923 |
| 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. | 107.1000.0000 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002073584C070403
There are no orders in the applicant’s service personnel records which awarded him the Purple Heart. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show a second award of the Bronze Star Medal to which he is entitled based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, award of American Campaign Medal to which he is entitled based on his “Continental Service” of over two years, the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp and the World War II Victory Medal to which he is entitled based on his...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001060551C070421
However, there is no evidence of record available to the Board which shows the applicant was wounded or treated for wounds as a result of hostile action during World War II. Therefore, the applicant is entitled to two awards of the Bronze Star Medal and correction of his records to show the Bronze Star Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster. AAO ___ LE ________ JTM ___ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001059659C070421
There is no evidence in the available records which shows the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart or was wounded as a result of hostile action during World War II. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, for award of the Prisoner of War (POW) Medal. Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge) and correction of his military records to show this award.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003086811C070212
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. The Board considered the witness statement submitted by the applicant’s former unit member and determined that the statement does not contain sufficient evidence to justify award of the Purple Heart.
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 | 2002069245C070402
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. There is no other evidence...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002067353C070402
The Board considered the following evidence: There is no evidence in the available records which shows the applicant was a member of Company E, 137th Infantry Regiment, during World War II. However, there is no evidence of record available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows that he was a member of Company E. Therefore, there is no basis for granting the applicant’s request to amend the organization on his WD AGO Form 53-55.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110018725
His WD AGO Form 53-55 further shows in: * item 6 (Organization) the entry "Co G, 22nd Infantry, 4th Division" * item 31 (Military Qualification and Date) the entry "Combat Infantryman Badge 1 November 1944" * item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) the: * Campaign of Normandy * Campaign of Belgium * Campaign of Germany * item 33 (Decorations and Citations) the: * Three Bronze Battle Stars * Army Good Conduct Medal * Purple Heart with One Oak Leaf Cluster * European Theater of Operations...
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 | CY2007 | 20070011545
There is no evidence in the applicant's available military records that shows he was wounded on or about this date, that he received medical treatment, and that the medical treatment was recorded in official military records. Therefore, the applicant is entitled to have his records corrected to show award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records, specifically the WD AGO Form 53-55 with a separation date of...