PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:              27 January 1999                
	DOCKET NUMBER:     AC98-10470
				     AR1998012581

	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. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. James E. Vick		Chairperson	
	Ms. Margaret K. Patterson		Member	
	Mr. John H. Kern		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 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) be corrected to show his combat service and combat pay (correctly known as combat infantry pay).

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his combat service and combat pay are not listed on his WD AGO 53-55. 

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show he was inducted on 20 November 1943.  He served as a rifleman in the European African Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 21 July 1944 until on or about early November 1945.  He was honorably discharged on 21 November 1945.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO 53-55 shows he was awarded the American Theater Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with four bronze service stars. 

6.  A DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 29 May 1990, shows the Army Reserve Center in St. Louis, Missouri, determined the applicant was entitled to the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the CIB, and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.  The Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart are not shown on his WD AGO 53-55 as authorized awards.

7.  A copy of the Surgeon General’s Hospital Admission’s Report shows he was hospitalized from September 1944 to October 1944 for wounds received as a result of hostile action.  

8.  The applicant’s Final Payment Work Sheet (War Department Form 372 A) shows he received Foreign Service pay from 1 October 1944 to 21 November 1945.  There is no indication on his Final Payment Worksheet to show that he received combat infantry pay.  

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as a result of hostile action.  Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify that the wound was the result of hostile action, the wound must have required treatment, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.

10.  War Department Circular 269-1943 established the Combat Infantryman Badge to recognize and provide an incentive to infantrymen.  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.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was wounded in action in September 1944.  Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Purple Heart and correction of his records to show this award.

2.  The applicant is entitled to combat infantry pay from September 1944 to 21 November 1945 based on award of the CIB.  Therefore, his records should be corrected to show that he was entitled to combat infantry pay and he should be paid the amount due him.

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 Purple Heart and was authorized to receive combat infantry pay from September 1944 to 21 November 1945. 

BOARD VOTE:  

JEV_____  MKP____  JHK____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AC98-10470/AR1998012581	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990127	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.	128.00	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.