PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           12 October 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000045695

	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:

	Mr. John D. Miller		Chairperson	
	Ms. Carol J. Suiter 		Member	
	Mr. John E. Denning		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 award of the Purple Heart.

3.  The applicant states that he was not awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received during the invasion of the Philippine Islands in World War II.  He contends that he was not asked about wounds at the time of his discharge and that the only thing he wanted to do was get out after serving 18 months in the South Pacific and participating in five campaigns.  In support of his application, he submits a letter from a Member of Congress dated 14 June 2000.  

4.  The Board notes that the applicant indicated in his application that he was providing two documents from the VA; however, they are not available to the Board.    

5.  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 that the applicant was inducted on
9 April 1943.  He served as a supply noncommissioned officer in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations from 5 September 1944 through 30 November 1945 and was honorably discharged on 28 December 1945.

6.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award.  Item
34 (Wounds Received in Action) of the WD AGO Form 53-55 states “NONE”. 

7.  The available records contain information from the Hospital Admission Cards created by the Office of the Surgeon General, Department of the Army (1942-1945 and 1950-1954) which indicates the applicant was hospitalized for a battle injury (sprain of ankle joint) on 4 November 1944 in the Southwest Pacific.              
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. 

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Medical evidence of record shows the applicant sustained a battle injury on
4 November 1944 in the Southwest Pacific during World War II.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his military records to show award of the Purple Heart.

2.  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 individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 4 November 1944 in the Southwest Pacific.

BOARD VOTE:  

JDM___  CJS______  JED____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		John D. Miller________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000045695	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20001012	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19451228	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365  	
DISCHARGE REASON	Convenience of the Government	
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.