PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:            29 January 2002                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001064042

	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. Lee Cates		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian 		Chairperson	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		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 that his records be corrected to show entitlement to award of the Purple Heart (PH). 

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that the PH was awarded but not entered on his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record Report of Separation – Honorable Discharge).

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 7 August 1940.

5.  On 11 December 1944, General Order 47, 141st General Hospital, announced award of the PH with 1st oak leaf cluster (OLC), to the applicant, for wounds received in action on 20 November 1944.

6.  On 21 September 1945, the applicant was honorably separated under Army Regulation 615-365, based on the convenience of the Government and demobilization.  He had 5 years, 1 month and 15 days of creditable service.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows “None” for wounds received in action, and does not show award of the PH.

7.  On 8 July 1947, a letter from the War Department, The Adjutant General’s Office, authorized award of the PH to the applicant based on wounds received in action against the enemy on 15 August 1943 on Sicily.

CONCLUSIONS:

1. The evidence of record clearly shows the applicant has been awarded the PH with 1 OLC, based on wounds received in action on 15 August 1943 and           20 November 1944.

2.  He is entitled to correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show award of these PH’s.

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 by showing the individual concerned was awarded the PH with 1 OLC, based on wounds received in action on 15 August 1943 and 20 November 1944.

BOARD VOTE:  

_mhm___  __aao___  _kah____ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________ DENY APPLICATION

			Arthur A. Omartian 
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001064042	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20020129	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.015	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.