PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           5 October 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000043252

	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.  

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Shirley Powell 		Chairperson	
	Mr.  Elzey J. Arledge		Member	
	Mr. Jaime Perez		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests correction of his discharge document to show award of the Purple Heart.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his discharge document shows that he was wounded in action on 17 August 1944 in the European Theater of Operations in item 34 (Wounds Received in Action); however, his discharge document does not show the Purple Heart.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) and medical documentation which substantiates his claim.

4.  The applicant’s military records were destroyed or lost during the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show he was inducted on 13 November 1943.  He served as a heavy truck driver in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 30 June 1944 through 5 January 1946 and was honorably discharged on 28 January 1946.  The applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge during World War II.   

5.  Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award.

6.  Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the entry “EAMETO [European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations] 17 AUG 44”.

7.  The applicant provided medical records which show that he was wounded in action and sustained a gunshot wound (machine gun) to his left hand during World War II.  

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) 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.

9.  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.
CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was wounded in action on 
17 August 1944 in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of item 33 (Decorations and Citations) on his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show award of the Purple Heart. 

2.  The applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge during World War II.  Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge) and correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show this award.

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 the entries “Purple Heart” and “Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge)” in item 33 (Decorations and Citations) on the WD AGO Form 53-55 of the individual concerned.

BOARD VOTE:  

SP_____  EJA_____  JP______  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Shirley Powell_______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000043252	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20001005	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19460128	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365  	
DISCHARGE REASON	Convenience of the Government	
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT PLUS)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.	107.0014	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.