| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mrs. Nancy L. Amos | Analyst |
| Mr. Arthur A. Omartian | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Hubert O. Fry | Member | |
| Mrs. Mae M. Bullock | Member |
2. The applicant requests that his deceased father, a former service member (FSM), be awarded the Purple Heart. He also requests to know if his father was promoted while he was in the service.
3. The applicant states that his father did not receive a Purple Heart when he was severely wounded in action on 21 September 1918 while with Company G, 6th Infantry, American Expeditionary Force.
4. The FSM's military records are not available. Information contained herein was obtained from a DD Form 303A (Certificate in Lieu of Lost or Destroyed Discharge) and a War Department letter dated 30 December 1918.
5. The FSM entered the Army on an unknown date. The War Department notified his next of kin by letter that he had been severely wounded on 21 September 1918.
6. The historical files of Company G, 6th Infantry, American Expeditionary Forces were reviewed at the National Archives in College Park, MD. Those records confirmed the FSM was wounded on 21 September 1918. They failed to show that he had been promoted.
7. The Purple Heart was established by General George Washington at Newburgh, NY on 7 August 1782 during the Revolutionary War. It was reestablished by the President of the United States per War Department General Orders 3 in 1932. It was awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of the Armed Forces or any civilian national of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U. S. Armed Services after 5 April 1917, died or sustained a wound as a result of hostile action.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The evidence of record confirms that the FSM was severely wounded on 21 September 1918. The Board concludes his wound was the result of hostile action. In view of the fact the Purple Heart was not reestablished until 1932, it appears the FSM was not awarded the Purple Heart due to an administrative oversight.
2. A review of the historical files of Company G, 6th Infantry, American Expeditionary Force failed to show that the FSM had been promoted.
3. In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the FSM was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained as a result of enemy action on 21 September 1918.
BOARD VOTE:
__aao___ __hof___ __mmb___ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
__Arthur A. Omartian__
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2003086481 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20031016 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | Mr. Schneider |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0015 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130011534
A 17 August 2007 letter from the National Personnel Records Center shows the FSM had been authorized the Purple Heart, World War I Victory Button (Bronze), and the World War I Victory Medal with Battle Clasp for the Defensive Sector. The National Personnel Records Center states he is authorized issuance of the World War I Victory Medal with France Service Clasp and the World War I Victory Button in Silver. Issuing award certificates for the Purple Heart for wounds sustained on 1 September...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070009137
During his military service, he served in the American Expeditionary Force during World War I (WWI) and that he received a gunshot wound to the middle of his right thigh as a result of enemy action on 8 October 1918. The FSM's records contain sufficient evidence showing that the he was wounded as a result of hostile action, was treated by military medical personnel, and the medical treatment was made a matter of official records. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2006 | 20060005853C070205
The applicant requests that the records of her deceased father, a former service member (FSM), be corrected by awarding him the Purple Heart for wounds received in action against the enemy in World War I. The FSM’s military records are not available to the Board for review. While there is very limited evidence in this case, the evidence provided by the applicant is sufficient to show that the FSM was wounded in action against the enemy on 29 September 1918, during WWI.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140002312
The applicant provides: * Her certificate of birth * Her certificate of marriage * Her father's certificate of death * 1940 census of her father living with his parents * 1930 census showing her father living with his parents * 1910 census showing her grandfather, the FSM's brother * Birth certificate of the FSM's brother * Death certificate of the FSM's brother * Death certificate of the FSM's father * County Orphan Court Records * FSM's birth certificate * FSM's World War I registration...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140017910
The FSM's complete military records are not available to the Board for review. It was awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of the Armed Forces who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after 5 April 1917, died or sustained wounds as a result of hostile action. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: * showing the FSM was...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090008092
The applicant, the son of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests correction of his late father's official military personnel record to show award of the Purple Heart. The FSM's military records are not available for review. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by awarding him the Purple Heart for wounds received in action in August 1918.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 20040011553C070208
The applicant’s military records are not available to the Board for review. The newspaper article shows that the FSM was wounded during World War I. A preponderance of evidence in this case shows that the FSM was wounded as a result of hostile action during World War I and was treated for these wounds.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050003134C070206
However, based on the foregoing, there is conclusive evidence to show that the FSM was wounded as a result of hostile action during World War I. Therefore, the FSM's service records should be corrected to show these awards. 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 for wounds received on 27 September 1918, a Silver World War I Victory Button, and a World War I Victory Medal with...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090011270
The applicant requests, in effect, that the records of her deceased father, a former service member (FSM), be corrected to show he earned the following awards as a result of his service during World War I (WWI): a. Purple Heart b. WWI Victory Medal with four service stars c. WWI Victory Button (silver) d. Army Service Clasp for service in France e. Army Battle/Campaign Clasp f. Army of Occupation of Germany Medal 2. However, the available documents verify only his participation in the St....
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070011522
The FSM's military records are not available to the Board. Based on the available evidence of record, the FSM is entitled to the award of the Purple Heart. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding the FSM the Purple Heart for wounds that he received in action at Verdun, France, on 26 September 1918; and b. providing the applicant an appropriate document to reflect the issuance of the Purple Heart.