PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:     

	BOARD DATE:           5 February 2004                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2003087236

	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. G. E. Vandenberg		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn 		Chairperson	
	Mr. John P. Infante 		Member	
	Ms. Karen A. Heinz		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 his records be corrected by showing he was wounded in action and by awarding him the Purple Heart.

3.  The applicant states that he was with A Company, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division, on the Island of New Guinea, when he came under enemy fire.  In attempting to advance on the enemy he reports that he fell over some trees, breaking his wrist and injuring his shoulder.  He states that he was medically evacuated to Australia and underwent 2 ½ months of rehabilitation.  He submits a copy of his Separation Examination and a 1953 medical report to support his request.

4.  The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  His request for the Purple Heart has previously been administratively closed due to the loss of his service records.  The DAGO Form 33 (Report of Physical Examination) has not previously been available for review.

5.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) shows that he entered active duty on 24 November 1941.  He served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater from 14 May 1942 through 2 May 1945.  

6.  The applicant was separated from active duty on 21 August 1945 as a result of demobilization.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 does not list the Purple Heart as an authorized award and block 34 (Wounds) states "NONE".  

7.  The WD AGO Form 53-55 lists his awards and decorations as the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the Philippine Liberation Medal.  Block 32 (Battle and Campaigns) shows he participated in the Papua, Southern Philippines, and New Guinea campaigns.

8.  Prior administrative actions show his authorized awards and decorations as the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge), the Good Conduct Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the American Defense Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Philippine Liberation Medal.

9.  The DAGO Form 33, block 11, dated 18 August 1945, states he was hospitalized for 2½ months at the 174th Station Hospital in Australia for a combat injury to his left wrist (a fracture with paralysis).  It states, at block 13, that he was hospitalized in January 1943, after falling on his arm in combat.  Block 38 shows residuals of a healed fracture to his left wrist with arthritic changes.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained while in action against an enemy or 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 by a medical officer, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence shows he sustained a combat injury to his left wrist in January 1943.  Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Purple Heart.

2.  With the award of the Purple Heart and the previous administrative changes it is appropriate to correct his records to show his awards and decorations as the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the American Defense Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Philippine Liberation Medal.

3.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, correcting the applicant’s records as recommended below will correct an error.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That he be shown to have received a combat injury in January 1943 and is awarded the Purple Heart;

2.  That his records be corrected by showing his awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the American Defense Service Medal, three bronze service stars for wear on the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Philippine Liberation Medal; and,

3.  That he be issued a complete set of all pertinent authorized awards.

BOARD VOTE:  

_ FNE___  __JPI  __  __KAH___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_   Samuel A. Crumpler____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003087236	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20040205	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT,(GRANT PLUS)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.