PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            24 November 1998                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-09959

	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	
	Ms. Celia L. Adolphi 		Member	
	Mr. Robert W. Garrett		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 Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and the Army of Occupation Medal for Japan (correctly known as the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp).

3.  The applicant states that these two awards were never issued to him.  In support of his application, he submits a letter from a soldier who served with him in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, a Proclamation from the Governor of the State of North Dakota and a newspaper article.  

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 he was inducted on 8 February 1943. He served two tours in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater (21 May 1944 through 24 December 1944; and an unknown date in April 1945 through 11 November 1945) and was separated with an honorable discharge on 5 December 1945.  

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation), which was authenticated in his own hand, does not show the CIB or the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp as authorized awards.

6.  Item 30 (Military Occupational Specialty and No.) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows “Cook 060”.   The applicant provided a letter from a fellow soldier who states the applicant was a “cook”.  War Department Form 372A (Final Payment - Work Sheet) for the period December 1945 does not show the applicant received combat infantry pay.  There are no orders in the applicant’s records which show he was awarded the CIB.      

7.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows the applicant’s unit (Headquarters Company, 164th Infantry) was authorized occupation credit for qualifying service in Japan from 3 September 1945 to 15 November 1945.

8.  DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 19 March 1987, shows the Army Reserve Personnel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, determined the applicant was entitled to the Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the Philippine Defense Ribbon with one bronze service star and the Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar.  These awards are also not shown on his WD AGO Form 53-55. 

9.  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 and holders of the Expert Infantryman Badge were entitled to expert 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. The Awards Branch, Total Army Personnel Command, has advised in similar cases that, during World War II, the Combat Infantryman Badge was normally awarded only to enlisted individuals who served in the following positions:

    a.  Light machine gunner (604)
    b.  Heavy machine gunner (605)
    c.  Platoon sergeant (651)
    d.  Squad leader (653)
    e.  Rifleman (745)
    f.  Automatic rifleman (746)
    g.  Heavy weapons NCO (812)
    h.  Gun crewman (864)

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Army of Occupation Medal is awarded for service of thirty consecutive days at a normal post of duty in a qualifying location.  Personnel at a qualifying location as an inspector, courier, escort, temporary or detached duty are precluded from eligibility.  Qualifying service in Japan included service in the Japanese home islands, the Ryukyu Islands and the Bonin-Volcano Islands between
3 September 1945 and 27 April 1952.  Service between 3 September 1945 and 2 March 1946 is qualifying only if the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was earned prior to 3 September 1945.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, will show whether or not a World War II unit was authorized occupation credit, thus entitlement to the Army Occupation Medal.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows the applicant served in military occupational specialty (MOS) 060 as a cook, not in an infantry MOS.  Therefore, he is not entitled to award of the CIB.

2.  The applicant’s unit was authorized occupation credit for qualifying service in Japan from 3 September 1945 to 15 November 1945.  Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp.

3.  The applicant was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the Philippine Defense Ribbon with one bronze service star and the Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar.

4.  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 Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the Philippine Defense Ribbon with one bronze service star and the Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar. 

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

BOARD VOTE:  

GDP_____  CLA____  RWG___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON