ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:

	BOARD DATE:  26 July 2019

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20190005743


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  correction of his DD Form 214 (Enlisted Record and Report 
of Separation Honorable Discharge) to show award of the:

*	Bronze Star Medal
*	Purple Heart (2nd Award)

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

*	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record), dated 23 April 2019
*	DD Form 214

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 (ABCMR) 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 applicant's complete military records are not available 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 to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case.

3.  An award of the Combat Infantryman Badge or the Combat Medical Badge is 
considered to be a citation in orders.  Soldiers serving in World War II who were 
awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge are authorized award of the Bronze Star 
Medal.  His DD Form 214 will be administratively corrected to show this award and this 
issue will not be discussed further in these Record of Proceedings.

4.  The applicant states:

	a.  Veterans that served in World War II that were awarded the Combat Infantryman 
Badge were also awarded the Bronze Star Medal.?
	b.  He was wounded twice during World War II in the European Theater of 
Operations and he was awarded one Purple Heart.

	c.  He as wounded in France, sent to England and back to France, where he was 
wounded again.

5.  The applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 29 October 1942.

6.  On 11 December, 1945 he was honorably discharged from the Army of the United 
States.  His DD Form 214 shows in:

	a.  item 31 (Military Qualification and Date) – Combat Infantryman Badge, 15 June 
1944, and Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar, 12 July 1942

	b.  item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) –

*	Normandy, Northern France – War Department 45 General Order 33
*	Rhineland War – General Order 40 Department 45 General Order 40

	c.  item 33 (Decorations and Citation) – 

*	Purple Heart (Headquarters, 117th Infantry Division, General Order 
Number 27, 15 June 1944)
*	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
*	Army Good Conduct Medal
*	American Campaign Medal
*	World War II Victory Medal

	d.  item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) – France, 30 July 1944

7.  His available records are void of orders awarding him the Purple Heart (2nd Award) 
or information on his wound incurred in action in France on 30 July 1944.

BOARD DISCUSSION:

1.  The Board carefully considered the applicant’s request, supporting documents and 
evidence in the records.  The Board considered the applicant’s statement regarding him 
twice being wounded, the letter from the National Personnel Records Center regarding 
the his records, the entries on his WD AGO Form 53-55 that shows in item 33 
(Decorations and Citations) - Purple Heart General Orders dated15 Jun 44 and in item 
34 (Wounds received in action) France 30 Jul 44.  The Board determined that the 
preponderance of evidence supports award of a second Purple Heart for wounds 
received in France on 30 July 1944.   The Board concurs with the award of the Bronze 
Star Medal since he was also awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. 

2.  After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that 
relief was warranted.

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:

In addition to the correction stated in the Administrative Note(s) below, 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 (1OLC) for wounds received in France on 30 
July 1944, and;
-	issuing the applicant a DD Form 214 for his period of service ending 11 
December 1945 to add to his current awards the Bronze Star Medal and the 
Purple Heart (1OLC).
  


	  
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.


ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE(S):  The applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman 
Badge and the award is considered to be a citation in orders for the Bronze Star Medal.  
His DD Form 214 should be corrected to show this award.

?
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 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.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states:

	a.  The Bronze Star Medal is awarded for heroism and for meritorious achievement 
or service in military operations against an armed enemy.  The Bronze Star Medal is 
authorized for each individual who was cited in orders or awarded a certificate for 
exemplary conduct in ground combat between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 
1945 or whose achievement or service, during that period, was confirmed by documents 
executed prior to 1 July 1947.  An award of the Combat Infantryman Badge or the 
Combat Medical Badge is considered to be a citation in orders.  Therefore, the Bronze 
Star Medal is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service 
during World War II.

	b.  The Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained in action against an enemy or 
as a result of hostile action.  Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify 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.  The Purple Heart differs from all other decorations in that an individual is not 
"recommended" for the decoration; rather, he or she is entitled to it upon meeting 
specific criteria.  A Purple Heart is authorized for the first wound suffered under 
conditions indicated above; an oak leaf cluster is awarded to be worn on the medal or 
ribbon for each subsequent award.  Not more than one award will be made for more 
than one wound or injury received at the same instant or from the same missile, force, 
explosion, or agent.  As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, 
approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.  


ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20190005743
	
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