DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 
BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF NAVAL RECORDS 
701 S. COURTHOUSE ROAD, SUITE 1001 
ARLINGTON, VA 22204-2490 

Docket No: 5541-19  
Ref:   Signature Date  

From:  Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records  
To:    Secretary of the Navy  

Ref:  (a) 10 U.S.C. § 1552 
      (b) DoD Manual 1348.33 (Manual of Military Decorations and Awards) 
      (c) SECNAVINST 1640.1H (Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual)  

Encl:  (1) DD Form 149 with attachments  

1.  Pursuant to the provisions of reference (a), Petitioner, the surviving son of a former Marine Ernest Edward Thomas (“Marine”), filed the enclosure with this Board requesting a change to his Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty or its World War II service equivalent (“DDForm 214”), to reflect the Marine’s entitlement to a second Purple Heart Medal (“PHM”). 

2.  The Board, consisting of    , reviewed Petitioner’s allegations of error and injustice on 5 December 2019, and, pursuant to its regulations, determined that the corrective action indicated below should be taken on the available evidence of record.  Documentary material considered by the Board consisted of the enclosures, relevant portions of the Marine’s naval service records, an advisory memorandum from Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, and applicable statutes, regulations, and policies. 

3.  The Board, having reviewed all the facts of record pertaining to Petitioner’s allegations of error and injustice finds as follows: 

a.  Before applying to this Board, Petitioner exhausted all administrative remedies available under existing law and regulations within the Department of the Navy, and although the enclosure was not filed by Petitioner in a timely manner, the Board found it in the interest of justice to waive the statute of limitations and consider his application on its merits. 

b. The Marine served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 7 December 1943 to 19 January 1946, and he earned an honorable discharge upon his release from active duty.  The Marine’s USMC serial number was 923430.  While stationed in the Pacific theater during World War II, the Marine served with the 1st Marine Division. 

c. Reference (c) lists the eligibility requirements for the PHM.  Within the Department of the Navy, to qualify for the PHM the wound received has to be the direct or indirect result of enemy action, and such wound required treatment by a medical officer at the time of injury.  Both criteria must be met to be awarded the PHM. from 1 April 1945 to 21 June 1945.  The Marine was wounded in both engagements. 

e. The Petitioner’s original “Honorable Discharge from the United States Marine Corps” certificate states he was wounded in action and received one PHM, but does not list entitlement to any additional awards or medals.  The Military Awards Branch of Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps (HQMC), reviewed the Marine’s official military personnel file and issued a “Memorandum for the Executive Director, Board for 
Correction of Naval Records” dated 23 October 2019 (“HQMC Memo”), certifying that the Marine is entitled to the following awards (listed in order of precedence): 

1) Purple Heart Medal (with one gold star)  
2) Combat Action Ribbon for service during World War II; 
3) Presidential Unit Citation (with one bronze star) 
4) Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with two bronze campaign stars); 
5) World War II Victory Medal; and 
6) Rifle Marksman Badge. 

f. Accordingly, the Board concurred with the HQMC Memo and determined that the Marine is entitled to the above-referenced awards, which included two PHMs.  The Board concluded that their decision was consistent with current awards guidance as outlined in references (b) and (c). 

CONCLUSION: 

Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, especially in light HQMC’s awards verification as detailed in the HQMC Memo, and the Board’s own independent analysis, the Board determined that Petitioner’s request warrants relief. 

In view of the above, the Board directs the following corrective action. 

RECOMMENDATION: 

That Marine be issued a “Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty” (DD Form 215), to indicate the entitlement to the following decorations, medals, 
badges, commendations, citations, and campaign ribbons: 

1) Purple Heart Medal (with one gold star);
2) Combat Action Ribbon during World War II; 
3) Presidential Unit Citation (with one bronze star); 
4) Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with two bronze campaign stars); 
5) World War II Victory Medal; and
6) Rifle Marksman Badge. 

Following the corrections to the DD Form 214 indicating the revised entitlement to Petitioner’s decorations, medals, badges, commendations, citations, and campaign ribbons, that all other information currently listed on such DD-214 remain the same. 

That a copy of this report of proceedings be filed in Petitioner’s naval record. 

That, upon request, the Department of Veterans Affairs be informed that Petitioner’s application was received by the Board on 15 May 2019. 

4.  It is certified that a quorum was present at the Board’s review and deliberations, and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board’s proceedings in the above entitled matter. 

5.  Pursuant to the delegation of authority set out in Section 6(e) of the revised Procedures of the Board for Correction of Naval Records (32 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 723.6(e)) and having assured compliance with its provisions, it is hereby announced that the foregoing corrective action, taken under the authority of reference (a), has been approved by the Board on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy.