RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

 AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-03186 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

He be awarded the Purple Heart (PH) medal and the Combat 
Infantry Badge (CIB). 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He was wounded in action and while in the hospital he refused to 
sign the forms presented to him because he did not want his 
parents to know that he had been shot. However, he should have 
been awarded the PH and the CIB. 

 

In support of his appeal, the applicant provides a copy of his 
WD AGO 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, issued 
in conjunction with his 23 Apr 46 discharge; a copy of his 
WG AGO Form 100, Separation Qualification Record, and additional 
supporting documents. 

 

The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit A. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant’s master personnel records were damaged by fire at 
the National Personnel Record Center (NPRC), in St. Louis, in 
1973. Therefore, the following facts have been extracted from 
the documents submitted by the applicant and through available 
documentation from the NPRC. 

 

He is a former member of the Army Air Force who served in the 
European Theatre of Operation from 24 Feb 45 to 9 Apr 46, as a 
clerk typist. He participated in the Rhineland and Central 
Europe campaigns. His WD AGO Form 53 55, reflects that he was 
awarded the American Campaign Medal, the European African Middle 
Eastern (EAME) Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the 
World War II Victory Medal. 

 


He was credited with one year, six months, and two days of 
continental service and one year, two months, and three days of 
foreign service. 

 

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THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

AFPC/DPSIM recommends denial, stating, in part, in accordance 
with (IAW) the current Air Force Instruction, the CIB is not 
authorized to Air Force personnel for permanent wear. 

 

The CIB is the United States Army combat service recognition 
badge awarded to individuals who personally fought in active 
ground combat while assigned to either an infantry or special 
forces unit any time after 6 Dec 41. They found no supporting 
documentation in the applicant’s case file that supports his 
claim that he was shot or wounded during World War II (WWII) or 
assigned to one of those units during his service. In addition, 
they note that sister-service badges are worn only while 
permanently assigned to and performing duties with other 
services. 

 

The complete AFPC/DPSIM evaluation is at Exhibit C. 

 

AFPC/DPSIDR recommends denial of the PH medal, stating, in part, 
that they were unable to locate official military and medical 
documentation, a detailed account of the event, or an eyewitness 
statement to verify the applicant’s claim. 

 

The PH is awarded for wounds received as a direct result of 
enemy actions (i.e., gunshot or shrapnel wounds, hand-to-hand 
combat wounds, forced aircraft bail out injuries, etc.). In 
addition, it is necessary the wounds required or received 
treatment by medical personnel. Indirect injuries do not meet 
the criteria for the award of the PH. These include, but are 
not limited to, injuries received while seeking shelter from 
mortar or rocket attacks, aircraft bombings, grenades, and 
injuries incurred while serving as an aircraft member in a 
passenger status as a result of the aircraft’s evasive measures 
against hostile fire. 

 

Based on the available evidence of record, no documentation was 
located or provided to substantiate the applicant’s claim of 
wounds received from enemy action. 

 

The complete AFPC/DPSIDR evaluation is at Exhibit D. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF THE AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the 
applicant on 7 Jan 11 for review and comment within 30 days. As 


of this date, no response has been received by this office 
(Exhibit E). 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 

 

1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by 
existing law or regulations. 

 

2. The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the 
interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 

 

3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of error or injustice. We took notice 
of the applicant's complete submission in judging the merits of 
the case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation 
of the Air Force offices of primary responsibility and adopt 
their rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the 
applicant has not been the victim of an error or injustice. The 
acts of heroism and personal sacrifice the applicant endured for 
our nation is noted; however, based on our review of the 
evidence of record and the documentation submitted in support of 
the appeal, we do not find it sufficient to recommend award of 
the PH or the CIB. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the 
contrary, we find no basis to recommend granting the relief 
sought in this application. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 

 

The applicant be notified the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; the 
application was denied without a personal appearance; and the 
application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of 
newly discovered relevant evidence not considered with this 
application. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 


 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2010-03186 in Executive Session on 26 May 2011, under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 22 Jan 10, 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSIM, dated 8 Nov 10. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSIDR, dated 9 Dec 10. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 7 Jan 11.