PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:           12 May 1999                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1998012953

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Ms. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. George D. Paxson		Chairperson	
	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		Member	
	Mr. James E. Anderholm		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests, in effect, that his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) be corrected to show his military occupational specialty (MOS) as airborne infantry, instead of truck driver. 

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his MOS is incorrect on his WD AGO Form 53-55.  He contends that his claim for Veterans Affairs benefits has been difficult to establish benefits for experiences in combat since his discharge paper shows truck driver.  He also contends that he served in combat and received the Combat Infantryman Badge.

4.  The applicant’s military records were destroyed or lost during the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show that the applicant was inducted on
8 November 1943.  He served as a truck driver in the European Theater of Operations from 7 August 1944 to 26 October 1945 and was honorably discharged on 18 November 1945.  He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the European-African-Middle-Eastern Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.    

5.  Item 30 (Military Occupational Specialty and No.) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55, which was authenticated in his own hand, shows “TRUCK DRIVER HVY 931”.  

6.  DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 23 January 1987, shows the Army Reserve Personnel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, determined the applicant was entitled to the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge).  This medal was not shown on the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Contrary to the applicant’s contention that his MOS was airborne infantry, the evidence of record shows his MOS as “Truck Driver HVY” at the time of his separation from the Army.  Therefore, the MOS is correctly displayed on the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55.

2.  The applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge); therefore, he is entitled to correction of his military records to show this award.

3.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge).

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied. 

BOARD VOTE:  

GDP____  AAO_____  JEA____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		George D. Paxson______
		CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1998012953	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	19990512	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19451118	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365  	
DISCHARGE REASON	CONVENIENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT	
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	100	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.