PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           25 June 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2002067819

	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. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Mr. Elzey J. Arledge, Jr.		Member	
	Mr. Thomas Lanyi		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 that he was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal. 

3.  The applicant states that his WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the Purple Heart or Bronze Star Medal.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55, two Western Union Telegrams, and a DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards).  He provides no information on how, when, or where he was wounded.

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show he entered active duty on 12 July 1943, as a medical aid man (657).  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 11 January 1944 to 13 March 1945, and continued to serve until he was honorably discharged on 5 December 1945.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he was credited with participation in three campaigns and was awarded the American Theater Ribbon, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the (Combat) Medical Badge. 

6.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the Purple Heart or the Bronze Star Medal as authorized awards.  Item 34 (Wounds Received In Action) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55, which was authenticated in his own hand, shows the entry “NONE.”  There is no record that the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart and there are no medical records available.  

7.  The available records contain a copy of a telegram from The Adjutant General (TAG) of the Army which shows he was slightly wounded in action in France on 31 July 1944.  His records also contain another telegram from the TAG which shows that he was slightly injured in action in France on 11 August 1944.

8.  The applicant’s records contain a copy of a Surgeon General’s Office (SGO) Hospital Listing, which shows that the applicant received a battle injury in August 1944, while serving in the European Theater of Operations.  He was diagnosed as having a wound(s), contused (to bruise or wound by bruising) (includes bruises) on his wrist which was caused by falling into a hole or ditch.

9.  A DA Form 1577, dated 13 July 1998, shows that the Army Reserve Personnel Command in St. Louis, Missouri, determined the applicant was authorized to be issued the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal, and three bronze service stars for the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 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.

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 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.

12.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, provides, in pertinent part, that the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is awarded for service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater between 7 December 1941 and 8 November 1945.  This medal is awarded to any service member who was permanently assigned in the theater, who was in a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days, or who was 
in active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration, or who was furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps or higher unit or independent force showing that he actually participated in combat.
The regulation states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate campaign or service medal including the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Although the applicant’s dates are confusing, it appears that he was wounded in action on one occasion while serving in the European Theater of Operations.  Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Purple Heart and correction of his records to show this award.

2.  The evidence of record shows the applicant is entitled to the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Medical Badge.  Therefore, his records should be corrected to show this award.

3.  The applicant is entitled to three bronze service stars to be worn on his 
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars.

4.  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 for the individual concerned be corrected by showing that he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 11 August 1944 in France, the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Medical Badge, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars.

BOARD VOTE:  

__jns___  __eja___  ___tl___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			John N. Slone
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002067819	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20020625	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19451205	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365 	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	61	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.