PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:   .

	BOARD DATE:  18 July 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR1999030335

	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. Stephanie Thompkins		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. George D. Paxson		Chairperson	
	Ms. Margaret V. Thompson		Member	
	Ms. Elizabeth Buchanon		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 two Purple Hearts.

3.  The applicant states in effect, that he believes he is entitled to two Purple Hearts and he can only supply medical records for one.  He also requested his medical records and was informed that his service and medical records were destroyed.  He submits copies of his medical records from the Battalion Aid Station dated 23 July 1943 and letters 12 September 1945 and 14 October 1947 for award of the Bronze Star Medal and copies of newspaper articles in support of his request.

4.  The applicant’s military records are partially destroyed but contain pertinent evidence.

5.  He was inducted on 13 June 1942. 

6.  Medical records including the Surgeon General’s Office Hospitalization File Listing 1944, show on 23 July 1943 he sustained multiple puncture wounds from a booby trap and in August 1943 he received multiple fragment wounds to his right arm and thigh.

7.  On 12 September 1945, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service from 8 March 1944 to 8 May 1945.

8.  Letter Orders dated 14 October 1947 were issued showing award of the Bronze Star Medal for exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy of the United States.

9.  He was discharged for the Convenience of the Government (Demobilization) as a private first class on 21 October 1945.  His awards included the European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with one Silver Battle Star and 3 Bronze Battle Stars, the Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge with 5 Overseas Service Bars and 1 Service Stripe.

10. On 12 July 1988, the applicant requested the Department of the Army, Military Awards Branch to add his name to the Medal of Honor Roll, as he was a Medal of Honor recipient.  

11. On 23 August 1988, he was advised in writing by that office, that a detailed review of his official military personnel file and the Army’s Medal of Honor Roll confirmed that he was not a recipient of the Medal of Honor.  He was further advised to desist from representing himself as a Medal of Honor recipient and to destroy any documents in his possession stating or inferring that he was a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

12. 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 a 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 applicant’s discharge document should be corrected to show award of two Purple Hearts for wounds received in action on 23 July and August 1943.

2.  Evidence in his records confirms he was wounded in action on two separate occasions and the Board is convinced he is entitled to the requested awards.

3.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing the individual concerned was awarded Purple Hearts for wounds received in action on 23 July 1943 and in August 1943.

BOARD VOTE:  

__gp____  __mt____  __eb____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___George D. Paxson____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999030335	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000718	
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.