I have read through many of the remarkable posts about WWI purple heart recipients and how they had to apply to have their wound chevron converted to the Purple Heart medal. My question is this...
Q: When WWI soldiers applied to receive their Purple Heart medal, were those requests cataloged in a database somewhere, perhaps at the National Archives or Army records center?
Background: I have diligently searched countless sources over the past decade regarding documents of my great-grandfather's service in WWI and have been rather successful despite the burning of his personnel record at the Archives in St. Louis. In summary I have requested his OMPF twice, since I was told they had reconstructed some after the fire, both times I only received his final pay voucher. Thankfully I have his original discharge, VA claim documents, Indiana compiled service card and many more documents. The reason I believe there to be a database is listed below from another forum online.
"However, there is an office at the personnel records center in St. Louis that has all of the WW I Purple Heart recipients on the original index cards. It lists name, date of wound or citation for merit, and the number of the Purple Heart that they were issued. These are maintained alphabetically, and there is usually no problem obtaining a copy of the index card. It just takes them awhile. I'll try to dig out the exact address."
Does anyone know the record group or location where such files may still be located? I have requested documents from Record Group 120: Records of the American Expeditionary Forces, Name Card File of Dead & Wounded Casualties of Infantry Divisions 126th Infantry - Oct 1918 Entry 568, Box 149. The Index card at this location provided his name, rank, unit, wound description and regimental case number.
I have a Purple Heart medal from him, with a serial number on the side, but no documentation to accompany it. It was not engraved with his name, and I understand this is more rare for WWI recipients.
Although I realize that no comprehensive Purple Heart recipient database exists, it logically makes sense that those WWI members who had to apply for the retroactive medal should've had their applications cataloged somewhere.
Place of Birth: St Marks Ind, 24 March 1992
Organizations Served In, with dates of Assignments and Transfers:
44 Co, 11 Bn, 159 Dep Brig to 16 June 1918
Co M, 153rd Inf - to 13 Sep 1918
Co C, 126th Inf - to discharge (Combat unit)
Rank: Pvt
Engagements: Romagne (Verdun) / Meuse-Argonne (1-5 October)
Wounded in Action (degree and date): "Slightly" on 5 Oct 1918
Served Overseas from: 6 Aug 1918 to 9 Jan 1919
Honorably Discharged on: 1 Feb 1919
In view of occupation he was, on date of discharge, reported, “0” percent disabled
Thank you!
