PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           14 December 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000044502

	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	
	Mrs. Joyce A. Hall		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. June Hajjar		Chairperson	
	Mr. Hubert O. Fry, Jr.		Member	
	Mr. Richard T. Dunbar		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 In effect, that his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation (WD-AGO Form 53-55) be corrected to show that he was awarded the Purple Heart (PH).

3.  The applicant states in effect, that his WD-AGO Form 53-55, item 34 
(Wounds Received in Action), shows that he was wounded by hostile forces while serving in Italy on 26 May 1944.  However his WD-AGO Form 53-55, item 
33 (Decorations and Citations), does not indicate the PH.  The applicant submits a copy of the Permanent Order awarding him the PH.

4.  The applicant’s reconstructed military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 23 October 1940.  His military occupational specialty was
745 (Squad Leader).  

5.  His WD-AGO Form 53-55, shows that he served in the European Theater of Operations from March 1942 to November 1944.  His WD-AGO Form 53-55, item 34 (Wounds Received in Action), also shows that he was wounded on 
26 May 1944, while serving in Italy.  

6.  On 11 August 1945, the applicant was discharged from active duty.  His WD-AGO Form 53-55, item 33 (Decorations and Citations), does not show the PH award.

7.  Headquarters, U.S. Total Army Personnel Command (PERSCOM), Military Awards Branch, Alexandria, VA letter dated 6 July 2000, Permanent Order
188-08, awards the applicant the PH.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows that the applicant was entitled to the award of the PH.  The applicant’s WD-AGO Form 53-55, item 34 and Permanent Order 188-08 authenticates that the applicant was wounded on 26 May 1944, and his injury resulted from hostile action.

2.  In view of the foregoing, it would be in the interest of justice to correct the applicant’s record as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the applicant was awarded the PH.

BOARD VOTE:  

__JH____  __HOF__  __RTD__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			June Hajjar
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000044502	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20001214	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.