WD AGO 53- 55 question

Hello all, My father-in-law is a WWII combat vet who participated in the re-taking of the Philippines. He possesses a Purple Heart awarded to him however his WD AGO 53 - 55 does not reflect the award in box 33 for awards and decorations, however in box 34 "Wounds Received In Action" there is the entry "AP JUN 1944". As a retired member of the USAF I am somewhat familiar with U.S. awards and decs and I know that any wound received from enemy action should trigger the award of the Purple Heart. Would the omission of the decoration in box 33 be a clerical error? Should we request a correction to his WD AGO 53 - 55? Looking for any informed opinions. Thanks all.

 

Hi Kenneth, welcome to the forums....

The omission certainly could be a clerical error. Is the PH engraved with his name? Yes, you should request a correction to his military records. It will take some time to accomplish, but it is an important part of his legacy to the family and should be preserved.

I do not know what AP June 44 means, but someone here will probably know.

Is it possible for you to post an image of his WD AGO 53 - 55? The additional information provides valuable context which is nearly always helpful.

What was your father-in-law's combat unit?

Finally, the invasion of the Philippines did not start until 20 October 1944. If the June 44 date is relevant to his PH, he would have been wounded before the invasion.

 

Thanks for the response. I had the year wrong, the entry in box 34 is actually "AP 13 Jun 45" his WD AGO has Co F 19th Inf, not sure if thats the unit he separated from or not.

 

The 19th Infantry Regiment was part of the 24th Infantry Division. The division was fighting on Mindanao at the time.

"As the division continued to clear the Tamalo River Valley the 19th Inf captured Mandog 9 Jun 1945. The end of organized Japanese resistance on Mindanao was declared 30 Jun 45, but the division continue operations [combat] in the Kibangay area...... The division continued mopping up, patrolling, and performing security on Mindanao until the end of the war." (from Stanton, "US Army Order of Battle, WWII.")

So now we know approximately where he was wounded. What is the date when he was sent/arrived back in the US?

 

AP is possibly Asiatic Pacific (Theater.) AP is used on my dad's separation papers for a location.

 

I would bet all of Lou's money that the omission on the separation was just a clerical error. And KZMgirl nailed the AP as Asiatic Pacific. My brother's box #34 states, "15 July 44 European Theater" so it appears the date and theater is a normal entry. I would ask for a record change. They can check it out easy enough and and shouldn't be any problem.