ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 4 October 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170017680 APPLICANT REQUESTS: the Purple Heart APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Personal Letter from the (FSM) daughter * Meritorious Service Citation * Award of Disability Compensation * Letter from the War Department * Order authorizing the wear of the wound chevron FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the three year time frame provided in Title 10, United States Code (USC), section 1552 (b); however, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records conducted a substantive review of this case and determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. 2. The FSM’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 his records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, there were sufficient documents remaining in a reconstructed record to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. This case is being considered using reconstructed records, which primarily consist of a WD AGO Form 53-55. 3. The applicant, the daughter of the FSM states, upon the 100 year anniversary of WWII, his grandchildren expressed interest in information regarding their grandfather’s service. Upon pulling out his box of letters he had written during the war was the rejection for his request for the Purple Heart from the War Department denying he was qualified for the wound chevron or meritorious service. 4. The applicant provides: a. Self-authored letter stating, a box of her father's letters were sent from France to his sister, the only family member who kept them and also included the 1st Infantry pin, the WWII Victory Medal showing the battles he was involved in and the Silver Star. In addition, there was a letter, dated 3 February, 1939 from the War Department rejecting his request for the Purple Heart. The rejection letter states, an individual needed to be awarded a Meritorious Service Citation (which he was awarded, see attached) plus orders to wear the wound chevron (which he was awarded, see attached). b. General Order Number 1, dated 1 January 1920 (Extract No. 7860) for gallantry and especially meritorious services was awarded to the FSM, who was wounded in action near Cantigny, France. c. Award of Disability Compensation, dated 5 June 1925 stating, on account of disability resulting from injury incurred in the line of duty while employed in the active service. The monthly payments pursuant to this award shall continue during the period in which you are disabled. d. Correspondence from the War Department, dated 3 February 1939 stating, under the regulations governing the award of the Purple, it can be awarded, for World War Service, only to those individuals who were awarded a Meritorious Services Citation Certificate by the Commander-in-Chief, American Expeditionary Forces; who were authorized in orders to wear a wound chevron or who received a wound or gas in action which necessitated treatment by a medical officer. A thorough investigation of the records do not show that he was wounded in action, treated therefor or were authorized in orders to wear a wound chevron; nor do they show that he was awarded a Meritorious Services Citation Certificate by the Commander-in-Chief, American Expeditionary Forces. e. Orders authorizing the wear of the wound chevron, stating, the FSM is authorized to wear the wound chevron. 5. The FSM’s record was not available for review. 6. Army Regulation 600-45 (Decorations), which governed the award of Army decorations until 23 August 1951 states, the Purple Heart is awarded for wounds sustained in action against an enemy or as a result of hostile action. 7. A Wound Chevron was a badge of the United States Army which was authorized for wear on an Army uniform between the years of 1918 and 1932. The Wound Chevron was displayed on the lower right cuff of a military uniform, and denoted wounds which were received in combat against an enemy force. The Wound Chevron was a replacement insignia for the short lived Army Wound Ribbon. In 1932, with the creation of the Purple Heart, Wound Chevrons were no longer awarded to Army personnel. In the modern military, the Wound Chevron is considered obsolete. A directive of the United States War Departmemt permitted Soldiers to exchange wound chevrons for the new Purple Heart medal. This was not required; however, some Army personnel elected to retain wound chevrons for wear on their uniforms instead of the Purple Heart. BOARD DISCUSSION: After review of the application and all evidence, the Board found relief was warranted. The applicant’s contentions were carefully considered. The FSM’s separation document was not available for the Board to review. However, based upon the preponderance of the evidence provided, the Board agreed the FSM was authorized to exchange his wound chevron for the Purple Heart. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 X X X GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by awarding him the Purple Heart in exchange for his Wound Chevron authorized for wounds received on 9 June 1918, by Special Orders Number 46, issued by Headquarters, 7th Field Artillery, American Expeditionary Forces on 3 August 1918. X CHAIRPERSON Signed by: I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. REFERENCES: 1. Title 10, USC, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within three years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant's failure to timely file within the three-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. 2. A Wound Chevron was a badge of the United States Army, Untied States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was authorized for wear on uniforms between the years of 1918 and 1932. The Wound Chevron was a gold metallic-thread chevron on an Olive Drab backing displayed on the lower right cuff of a US military uniform. It denoted wounds which were received in combat against an enemy force or hospitalization following a gassing. Initially created for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps personnel who had been wounded in combat could also receive it. The Wound Chevron was a replacement insignia for the short lived Army Wound Ribbon of 1917. a. In 1932, with the creation of the Purple Heart, Wound Chevrons were no longer awarded. A directive of the United States War Department and United States Navy Department permitted Soldiers to exchange wound chevrons for the new Purple Heart medal. This was not required, however, and some Army personnel elected to retain wound chevrons for wear on their uniforms instead of the Purple Heart. For those who were subsequently wounded, both the original wound chevrons and the Purple Heart medal were worn simultaneously. It is historically agreed that regulations did not permit wearing both the Purple Heart and the Wound Chevron at the same time; however, photographic evidence indicates that this was often done by veterans of both the first World War and Second World War. Its wear on the uniform was abolished in 1953, as the Overseas Service Bars were moved there. b. In the modern military, the Wound Chevron is considered obsolete. The decoration is very similar to the Overseas Chevron, which in World War I was worn on the left sleeve. //NOTHING FOLLOWS//