MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           30 June 1999                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1998013252

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration 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. John P. Infante		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

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

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  In effect, correction of his WD AGO Form 
53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to show his organization as
“106th Infantry Division”, instead of “67th ARMD FA BN” [Armored Field Artillery Battalion].  He also requests correction of his WD AGO Form 100 (Separation Qualification Record) to show his social security number and the correct spelling of his high school.

APPLICANT STATES:  In effect, that he was a forward observer for the
589th Field Artillery Battalion of the 106th Infantry Division in the European Theater of Operations.  He contends that his social security number was omitted on his WD AGO Form 100 and that his high school was misspelled.  In support of his application, he submits a personal letter dated 24 February 1998.  

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

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
10 March 1943.  He served as a radio operator in the European Theater of Operations from 17 November 1944 to 1 January 1946 and was honorably discharged on 20 January 1946. 

The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55, which was authenticated in his own hand, shows “67th ARMD FA BN” as his organization.  The applicant’s Honorable Discharge Certificate, dated 20 January 1946, shows 67th Armored Field Artillery Battalion as his unit.

Item 4 (Social Security No.) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 100 shows “Unknown”.  The applicant’s available personnel records do not contain a social security number, only an Army serial number.

Item 18 (Name and Address of Last School Attended) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 100, which was authenticated in his own hand, shows “AGINAS H.S. LA CROSS WIS” [Aginas High School, La Cross, Wisconsin].    

Based on regulation, in effect at the time, a service member’s unit of assignment at the time of his separation from the service was entered in Item
6 (Organization) of the WD AGO Form 53-55.  The unit shown in item 6 was not necessarily the same unit with which the applicant served during World War II.  If the service member was transferred to a unit at a separation center for the purpose of discharge processing, then the unit shown in item 6 was the unit from which the soldier was separated.  This is an important entry because it assists in locating a soldier’s military records.

The purpose of the WD AGO Form 100 (Separation Qualification Record) was to assist World War II veterans in post-service employment, education, or any other endeavor by the service member.  The form was prepared based on service personnel records and personal interview for a very specific purpose and was not intended as a replacement or substitute for the official records of the individual’s service.  For these reasons, this form was prepared on a one-time basis and was not replaced or edited after the fact.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  Notwithstanding the applicant’s contention that he was assigned to the 
106th Infantry Division during World War II, there is no evidence available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows he was assigned to this unit at the time of his separation.

2.  Evidence of record shows the applicant signed his WD AGO Form 53-55 on 20 January 1946 attesting to the fact that his organization was the 67th Armored Field Artillery Battalion.  Therefore, he is not entitled to correction of his organization on his WD AGO Form 53-55. 

3.  Records available to the Board show the applicant’s Army serial number was the primary means of identification at that time.  The Board notes that the official use of the social security number was not implemented until 1 July 1969.  The Board also notes the WD AGO Form 100 was prepared on a one-time basis and was not replaced or edited after the fact.  Therefore, the applicant’s records are properly identified with his Army serial number and his social security number will not be added to his WD AGO Form 100 at this time.

4.  The Board noted the applicant’s contention that his high school is misspelled on his WD AGO Form 100.  However, evidence of record shows the applicant signed his WD AGO Form 100 attesting to the fact that the last school he attended was Aginas High School.  Therefore, the WD AGO Form 100 is correct as currently constituted.              

5.  In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy the aforementioned requirement.

6.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

GDP____  AAO____  JPI______  DENY APPLICATION

						Loren G. Harrell
						Director

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1998013252	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	19990630	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19460120	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365  	
DISCHARGE REASON	CONVENIENCE OF GOVERNMENT DEMOBILIZATION	
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	100.0000	
2.	100.0900	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.