PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           10 April 2001     
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000050755

	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. Sherri V. Ward		Chairperson	
	Mr. George D. Paxson		Member	
	Mr. James E. Anderholm		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 WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to show award of the Purple Heart. 

3.  The applicant states that he was wounded on approximately 19 February 1943 in both legs while on missions in North Africa during World War II.  He was evacuated to the field hospital and then to a larger hospital.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55.

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 that the applicant enlisted on 
10 September 1940.  He served as a rifleman and as a postal clerk in the European Theater of Operations from 6 October 1942 through 17 April 1945 and was honorably discharged on 11 June 1945.

5.  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”. 

6.  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 indicate the applicant was hospitalized for a battle casualty (multiple wounds to his leg and thigh) in April 1943 in the European Theater of Operations.

7.  The applicant received the Combat Infantryman Badge 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.  Although the applicant contends that he was wounded on approximately 
19 February 1943, medical evidence of record shows that he sustained a battle casualty in April 1943 in the European Theater of Operations.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to award of the Purple Heart and correction of his discharge document to show this award.

2.  The applicant received 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 discharge document 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 that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge).

BOARD VOTE:  

SVW___  GDP_____  JEA_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Sherri V. Ward_____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000050755	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20010410	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19450611	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365  	
DISCHARGE REASON	Demobilization 	
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT PLUS)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.	107.0014	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.