RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-01996 

 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His deceased father’s records be corrected to reflect he was 
awarded the Purple Heart (PH) Medal and the Bronze Star Medal 
(BSM). 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He believes that his deceased father was awarded the PH Medal 
and BSM while serving during World War II. 

 

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

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant’s military personnel records were apparently 
located in the area most heavily damaged in the fire at the 
National Personnel Records Center in 1973. 

 

According to documents provided by the applicant, his late 
father commenced his active service in the Army Air Corps on 
1 Aug 42. On 18 Oct 43, he arrived in the European theater of 
operations where he served as an ammunition supply officer 
through 12 Mar 45, when he returned to the continental United 
States (CONUS). 

 

On 6 Oct 45, the deceased former member was honorably discharged 
for physical disability from De Witt General Hospital, 
Auburn, CA. 

 

In accordance with Army Regulation (AR) 600-45, Decorations, 
dated 22 Sep 43, during the period in question, the PH was 
awarded for wounds received in action against an enemy of the 
United States, or as a direct result of an act of such enemy, 
provided such wound necessitated treatment by a medical officer. 
For the purpose of awarding the PH, a wound was defined as an 


injury to any part of the body from an outside force, element, 
or agent, sustained as the result of a hostile act of the enemy, 
or while in action in the face of the enemy. When a person 
eligible for award of the PH was treated for a wound, the 
commanding officer of the hospital, or the medical officer who 
treated the wound, furnished the commanding officer of the 
wounded person a certificate briefly describing the nature of 
the wound and certifying the necessity of treatment. 

 

The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to a person in any branch of 
the military service who, while serving in any capacity with the 
Armed Forces of the United States on or after 7 December 1941, 
shall have distinguished himself or herself by heroic or 
meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation 
in aerial flight; while engaged in an action against an enemy of 
the United States; while engaged in military operations 
involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while 
serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed 
conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United 
States is not a belligerent party. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

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 an error or injustice. After 
careful consideration of applicant's request and the available 
evidence of record, we do not find the documentation presented 
sufficient to conclude that corrective action is warranted. 
While the applicant has presented a newspaper article which 
appears to indicate the deceased former member was awarded the 
Purple Heart (PH) and the Bronze Star Medal (BSM), we do not 
find the article, in and of itself, sufficient to compel us to 
recommend the record be corrected to reflect the deceased former 
member was awarded the PH or the BSM. Moreover, we do not find 
this uncorroborated, unofficial evidence sufficient to overcome 
the Report of Separation, issued in conjunction with the 
deceased former member’s 6 October 1945 separation, which 
reflects there were no wounds received in action. While the 
limited records before us indicate the applicant was discharged 
for physical disability after a period of convalescence 
described in the newspaper article provided by the applicant, 
the evidence before us is not sufficient to conclude that the 
condition for which the deceased former member was discharged 
was the result of action by the enemy or incurred while in 
action against the enemy in accordance with the criteria for the 
PH Medal in effect during the matter under review. Therefore, 


in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no basis to 
recommend granting the requested relief. 

 

________________________________________________________________ 

 

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-2012-01996 in Executive Session on 7 Mar 13, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 Panel Chair 

 Member 

 Member 

 

The following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 12 Mar 12, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Decedent’s Available Personnel Records. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair