PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:       

	BOARD DATE:            18 August 1999  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1998013656

	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	
	Mr. Kenneth Aucock		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Edward Williamson		Member	
	Mr. Sherri V. Ward		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 award of the Bronze Star Medal. 

3.  The applicant states that he was awarded the Purple Heart, thereby entitling him to award of the Bronze Star Medal.

4.  The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Information herein was obtained from reconstructed personnel records.

5.  A certification of military service shows that the applicant served in the Army from 9 April 1943 to 9 December 1945 and was honorably discharged in the rank of Technician Fifth Grade.

6.  In a 23 October 1945 letter an officer of the Percy Jones Hospital Center at Fort Custer, Michigan, requested from The Adjutant General, a copy of the General Order awarding the applicant the Purple Heart.  That officer indicated that the applicant was in action from 27 December 1944 to 29 February 1945 in Belgium and Germany while assigned to Company C, 18th Infantry of                the 1st Infantry Division.

7.  A copy of a final payment work sheet (War Department Form 372A) shows that the applicant received combat infantry pay in the amount of $3.00 for the period  1 December 1945 to 9 December 1945.

8.  War Department Circular 269-1943 established the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Expert Infantryman Badge to recognize and provide an incentive to infantrymen.  The Expert Infantryman Badge was to be awarded for
attainment of certain proficiency standards or by satisfactory performance of duty in action against the enemy.  The Combat Infantryman Badge was awarded for
exemplary conduct in action against the enemy.  War Department Circular 186-1944 further provided that the Combat Infantryman Badge was to be awarded only to infantrymen serving with infantry units of brigade, regimental or smaller size.  Additionally, World War II holders of the Combat Infantryman Badge received a monthly pay supplement known as combat infantry pay.  Therefore, soldiers had economic as well as intangible reasons to ensure that their records were correct.  Thus, pay records are frequently the best available source to verify entitlement to this award.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that World War II holders of the Combat Infantryman Badge are entitled to an award of the Bronze Star Medal.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant served in an infantry company and received combat infantry pay during World War II.  He should have been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, and if not, he is entitled to that award.  

2.  He is also entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal. 

3.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Bronze Star Medal for his service during World      War II.

BOARD VOTE:  

__rvo___  ___ew___  __svw___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1998013656	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990518	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1. 107.00		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.