William Ilg - Eligible for a Medal: UPDATE

     On November 7, 2019, I went to the mailbox and found the envelope I had been waiting for. The response from the Army Review Board regarding William Ilg's eligibility for the Purple Heart Medal. I almost screamed with excitement. I knew what I had to do. I had to get set up and open up the envelope on camera as a big reveal. I wasn't sure what to expect when I opened it up, but I was in for a surprise. Watch the video below:



     As you can see, I didn't get the response I was hoping for. I was crushed. I knew there was a chance they wouldn't give me an actual medal, but I wasn't expecting them to just flat out reject it. At first, I was just going to let it go and move on, thinking there was nothing I could do. Well, after talking with some friends and family along with doing some research on the web, I have to say, I don't agree with the decision. Their criteria clearly state:

"The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of an Armed Force or any civilian national of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after 5 April 1917, has been wounded or killed, or who has died or may hereafter die after being wounded..." Read the full description here at Recognize The Sacrifice

The response I got from the Army Review Board:

Army Regulation 600-7-22 (Military Awards) govers the award of the Purple Heart. Pleasenot the Purple Heart was established by General George Washington on August 7, 1782 for the Revolutionary War and the award was then reestablished by the President of the United States per War Department General Orders Number 3, 1932. Therefore, the Purple Heart was not an active award when PVT Ilg was killed in action on November 8, 1918 during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

     Their response does not match up with what the criteria state. Plus, I have also found a few articles online about WWI vets receiving the Purple Heart posthumously for the same campaign my 2nd Great Uncle fought in; The Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Why were they awarded, but my Uncle isn't? I need someone to explain this to me. I made another video about my frustration.



     I am serious when I say I am not going to let this go. Until they give me a more valid reason why William Ilg doesn't deserve the Purple Heart citation for his sacrifices, I am going to keep fighting for this. William paid the ultimate sacrifice for his country: his life. And according to the criteria, he deserves a Purple Heart to be added to his record.

Below are some links to some news articles about WWI vets receiving the Purple Heart for their service.

• 100 years later, WWI Soldier awarded Purple Heart 

• Purple Heart medals awarded to World War I Coast Guardsmen 

• CASEY: Glenvar students seek Purple Heart for fallen 'Great War' soldier 

• WWI veteran’s family accepts Purple Heart 100 years after war’s end 

• After 101 years, local World War I veteran receives his Purple Heart

     To figure out what the next step should be I wrote to the National Archives in St. Louis, the ones who gave me the information on who to contact in the first place. I got a response from Susan, the archival specialist who was helping me:

I'm disappointed to hear that. My research indicates that in April 2018, the Army decided to discontinue the issuance of WW1 medals. This decision was based on the belief that, for almost 100 years, the Army has met its obligation to World War I veterans and their descendants by issuing and reissuing medals. It is not economically feasible for the Army to provide medals to all future descendants of Army war veterans. I am assuming this also pertains to determination of entitlement to a decoration such as the Purple Heart, but I'm not sure. The fact that it "wasn't an active award at the time of his death" should not make any difference; if he is entitled, he should receive the Purple Heart. My instructions say "It is also awarded posthumously to the next of kin of personnel killed or having died of wounds received in action after April 5, 1917." It has been awarded retroactively to WW1 veterans since 1942. And in the case of WW1 veterans it is also awarded for mustard gas exposure. The problem is that the 1973 fire destroyed most WW1 Army service records but there are plenty of alternate sources showing entitlement; you have 2 attached to your first email. Possibly someone at ARBA is not fully aware of the procedures or interpreted them differently. I would keep pursuing this issue.

     She has also provided me with another office to contact. The Army HQ in Fort Knox, Kentucky, where they determine Army awards. So according to her, the Army does not actually award medals anymore for WWI vets. Which I didn't expect to get anyway as I am not a descendant of William Ilg, but only a 2nd Great Neice. My goal from the beginning was to have this award added to his record. And that's what I am going to see happen.
     Follow along with me on this new journey and hopefully, we will get William the award he deserves. I will be writing to the Army HQ in Fort Knox and if I don't get anywhere with that, Susan suggested I contact my Congressman or Senator. You bet your butt, that's what I'm going to do. Stay tuned...