PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           23 MAY 2002                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002070747

	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. Deborah L. Brantley		Senior Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Mark D. Manning		Chairperson	
	Mr. Lester Echols		Member	
	Ms. Karen Y. Fletcher		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.  He states that he was wounded in November 1942 and hospitalized at the 105th General Hospital in Australia.  

3.  The applicant's records were apparently lost or destroyed during the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis.  Information contained herein was reconstructed from alternative sources.

4.  The applicant entered active duty on 8 May 1941 and served in the Pacific Theater of Operations where he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.  According to files maintained by the Office of The Surgeon General, commonly referred to as the SGO Files, the applicant sustained a cerebral concussion in November 1942.  His injury was recorded as a "battle casualty."  He was hospitalized, according to the SGO Files, for 33 days.  There is no indication, however, that the applicant was ever awarded the Purple Heart.

5.  The applicant remained overseas until May 1945 when he returned to the United States and was honorably discharged on 18 June 1945.

6.  As a result of the applicant's service during World War II he is entitled to the World War II Victory Medal, which was omitted from his separation document.  He is also entitled to a Bronze Star Medal based on his award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  Award of the Bronze Star Medal based on the Combat Infantryman Badge is commonly referred to as a conversion award.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms the applicant sustained a cerebral concussion in November 1942 as a result of hostile action during World War II and as such is entitled to an award of the Purple Heart.

2.  The evidence also confirms that as a result of the applicant's service during World War II he is entitled to the World War II Victory Medal.  His is also entitled to a Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award based on his Combat Infantryman Badge.

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:

a.  by awarding the individual concerned the Purple Heart for the cerebral concussion he sustained in November 1942 as a result of hostile action;

b.  by showing that he is entitled to the World War II Victory Medal; and

c.  by awarding him the Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award based on his Combat Infantryman Badge.

BOARD VOTE:  

__MDM__  __LE ___  __KYF __  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Mark D. Manning_____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002070747	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020523	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.