RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 13 SEPTEMBER 2005 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20050001231 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. Deborah L. Brantley Senior Analyst The following members, a quorum, were present: Ms. Shirley Powell Chairperson Mr. Robert Duecaster Member Ms. Jeanette McCants Member The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including advisory opinion, if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests that his records be corrected to reflect award of the Purple Heart. 2. The applicant states he fought in the original invasion at D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge and was wounded but never awarded the Purple Heart. In correspondence from the applicant's congressional representative, the representative noted the applicant had related to him that he was in a hospital at Fort Devens, Massachusetts for 5 months prior to his December 1945 discharge from injuries received in the war. 3. The applicant provides no evidence in support of his request. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant’s military records are not available to the Board for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members’ records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. It is believed that the applicant’s records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, there were sufficient documents remaining in a reconstructed record for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. 2. Information on the applicant's separation document notes he entered active duty on 19 May 1943 and arrived in the European Theater of Operations in November 1943. 3. According to medical documents which were attached to correspondence from the applicant's congressional representative, the applicant was admitted to a hospital overseas on 24 July 1945 with a diagnosis of a pilonidal cyst (a cyst at the bottom of the tailbone that becomes infected). By 3 August 1945 the decision was made to transfer the applicant to a medical facility in the United States for further hospitalization and treatment. The applicant departed Europe on 17 August 1945 and on 13 September 1945 the cyst was excised. 4. On 4 December 1945 the applicant was honorably discharged at Fort Devens, Massachusetts as a result of demobilization. Item 34 (wounds received in action) reflects the entry "None." The applicant signed the separation document. 5. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for wounds sustained 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. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. Unfortunately, there is no medical evidence, and the applicant has not provided any that he was wounded as a result of hostile action during World War II. In the absence of such medical evidence, there is no basis for an award of the Purple Heart. 2. The medical evidence, which is available to the Board, does confirm that the applicant was evacuated from Europe and hospitalized. However, the reason for the evacuation and hospitalization was a cyst which was subsequently excised. The medical condition would not entitle the applicant to an award of the Purple Heart. 3. In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust. The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy that requirement. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ___SP __ ___RD __ __JM ___ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. ______Shirley Powell________ CHAIRPERSON INDEX CASE ID AR20050001231 SUFFIX RECON YYYYMMDD DATE BOARDED 20050913 TYPE OF DISCHARGE (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) DATE OF DISCHARGE YYYYMMDD DISCHARGE AUTHORITY AR . . . . . DISCHARGE REASON BOARD DECISION DENY REVIEW AUTHORITY ISSUES 1. 107.00 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.