BOARD DATE:	  10 March 2015

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20140014507 


THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE:

1.  Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any).

2.  Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any).


THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant requests reconsideration of a request submitted by his father, a deceased former service member (FSM), for correction of his records to show award of the Bronze Star Medal.

2.  The applicant states:

* his father previously submitted an application for correction of his records to show the Bronze Star Medal but the Board denied his request
* his father has since died but his death should not make his previous application irrelevant
* he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal at a field hospital in September 1944 but it was not recorded in his records
* his father was wounded during World War II and he was awarded the Purple Heart
* a notation of his wound is mentioned on the Hospital Admissions Card of the Office of the Surgeon General; he was wounded in combat in Belgium on 8 September 1944
* he was wounded while in combat during the Ardennes campaign and he would have been far out in front of the main thrust of his unit 
* after his death in May 2014, original wedding pictures from 1945 captured him in full dress uniform displaying the Bronze Star Medal 

3.  The applicant provides:


* Hospital Admissions Card of the Office of the Surgeon General
* Purple Heart Certificate
* Photograph 
* Letter from the U.S. Army Human Resources Command 

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20130002475, dated 22 August 2013. 

2.  The applicant submits documents and an argument that were not previously reviewed by the ABCMR and that warrant consideration at this time.  

3.  The FSM's military records are not available to the Board for review.  A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members’ records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973.  It is believed his records were lost or destroyed in that fire.  However, there were sufficient documents remaining in a reconstructed record for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case.

4.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he entered active duty on 25 September 1939.  This form also shows at the time of his separation he held military occupational specialty 677 (Military Policeman) and he was assigned to the 1008th Engineer Service Battalion.

5.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he served in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) from 16 September 1942 to 1 November 1945.  He completed 1 year and 6 days of continental service and 3 years, 1 month, and 27 days of foreign service and he was honorably separated on 20 November 1945.  This form also shows in: 

* Item 31 (Military Qualifications and Date), the entry "None"
* item 32 (Battles and Campaigns), the Normandy, Northern France, and Ardennes campaigns
* Item 33 (Decorations and Citations), the American Defense Service Medal, American Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Purple Heart, and the Word War II Victory Medal
* Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action), the entry "ETO, 8 September 1944" 

6.  The FSM's reconstructed records do not contain a recommendation for or orders awarding him the Bronze Star Medal. 
7.  The applicant provides a copy of the Hospital Admissions Card created by the Office of The Surgeon General for the Year 1944 that confirms the FSM was wounded in action on 5 September 1944 by fragments of an artillery shell and he was treated. 

8.  He provides a photograph of presumably the FSM in service uniform displaying certain ribbons. 

9.  On 28 April 2014, by letter, the Chief, Awards and Decorations Branch, U.S. Army Human Resources Command advised the FSM's Member of Congress that the FSM had already been issued award of the Purple Heart.  However, since the ABCMR had denied his award of the Bronze Star Medal, the Awards and Decorations Branch could not act on his request for this award.  

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides for award of the Bronze Star Medal.  It states the Bronze Star Medal is awarded in time of war for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, or while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.  As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There is no evidence in the FSM's records and the applicant provides none to show the FSM was recommended for or awarded the Bronze Star Medal.  The governing Army regulation states that for personal decorations (which include the Bronze Star Medal) formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required. 

2.  Being wounded in combat and awarded the Purple Heart does not entitle a member to award of the Bronze Star Medal.  

3.  The FSM's service and sacrifices during World War II and the applicant's sincerity are not in question.  However, in the absence of official orders or documentary evidence confirming such orders were published, there is insufficient evidence to correct the FSM's records to show the Bronze Star Medal.




BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

___X_____  ___X_____  __X___  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice.  Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis to amend the decision of the ABCMR set forth in Docket Number AR20130002475, dated 22 August 2013. 



      _______ _  X _______   ___
               CHAIRPERSON
      
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20140014507



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20140014507



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