PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:           31 July 2001 
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001057200

	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	
	Mr. Lee Cates		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Walter T. Morrison		Chairperson	
	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		Member	
	Mr. John T. Meixell		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 that his records be corrected to show entitlement to award of the Purple Heart (PH).

3.  The applicant states that he was in a house that was completely blown up   (15 March 1945) by German artillery.  He now wears a hearing aid (20 March 2001), which was issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 20 May 1944.

5.  During the period 25 November 1944 to 8 June 1946, he served in the European Theater of Operation, to include travel to and from the theater.

6.  On 23 January 1945, Special Orders Number 11, Headquarters, 232d Infantry announced award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), effective 5 January 1945, in Hofghstein, Austria.

7.  On 12 June 1946, a physical examination cleared the applicant for separation. At that time is sight was 20/20 and his hearing was 15/15.

8.  On 13 June 1946, he was honorably separated under Army Regulation 615-365, based on the convenience of the Government and demobilization.  His separation document indicates he had 2 years and 24 days of creditable service. His separation document shows his entitlement to award of the Good conduct Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal for Germany, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars for the Central Europe and Rhineland campaigns, and the World War II Victory Medal.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the PH 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.

10. War Department Circular 269-1943 established the CIB to recognize and provide an incentive to infantrymen.  The CIB was awarded for exemplary conduct in action against the enemy.  War Department Circular 186-1944 further provided that the CIB was to be awarded only to infantrymen serving with infantry units of brigade, regimental or smaller size.

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides, in pertinent part, that the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is awarded for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service in military operations against an armed enemy.  The BSM 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 CIB or the Combat Medical Badge is considered to be a citation in orders.  This means, in effect, that the BSM is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service during World War II.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There is no evidence that the applicant met the regulatory requirements for award of the PH; therefore, he is not entitled to that award.

2.  The evidence of record shows the applicant was awarded the CIB and his records should be corrected accordingly.  

3.  Additionally, based on award of the CIB, the applicant is also entitled to award of the BSM and his records should be corrected accordingly. 

4.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the CIB and the BSM, based on award of the CIB.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

_wtm____  _jtm_____  _aao___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		        Walter T. Morrison
		_______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001057200	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20010731	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.