PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           16 December 1998
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-12724
				   AR1998012538

	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. Ernest M. Willcher		Chairperson	
	Mr. Lana E. McGlynn		Member	
	Mr. Carol Jo Suiter		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 correction of his records to show award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM), the Belgian Fourragere Citation, and the Presidential Unit Citation Award (PUC).

3.  The applicant states these awards were never issued to him.  In support of his application he submits a copy his WG AGO 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) and a copy of a decree dated 17 June 1956, #2509 prepared by the Belgian Government.

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 that he was inducted on 14 September 1942.  He served in the European Theater of Operations from 19 October 1943 to 16 May 1945 and was honorably discharged on 5 January 1946.  

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO 53-55 does not show the Bronze Star Medal, the Belgian Fourragere, and the Presidential Unit Citation as authorized awards.

6.  A DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 14 February 1985, shows the Army Reserve Personnel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, determined the applicant was entitled to the Bronze Star Medal based on the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. 

7.  The applicant provided a copy of a citation by the Belgian Government which shows his unit was cited twice in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows the applicant’s unit was awarded the Belgian Fourragere by Department of the Army General Orders 
43- 50 based on the citation by the Belgian Government.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Presidential Unit Citation (known as the Distinguished Unit Citation until 3 November 1966) is awarded for extraordinary heroism in action.  A unit must display such gallantry, determination and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission as would warrant award of the Distinguished Service Cross to an individual.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) indicates that the 2nd battalion, 23rd Infantry was cited for award of the Distinguished Unit Citation by War Department General Order 109-45.

9.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows the applicant’s unit (2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry) was awarded occupation credit for qualifying service in Germany from 2 May 1945 to 4 June 1945.

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.  For Germany service must have been between 9 May 1945 and 5 May 1955 and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal must have been awarded prior to 9 May 1945.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows the applicant was awarded the Bronze Star based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show award of the Bronze Star Medal.

2.  The applicant is entitled to the Belgian Fourragere, the Presidential Unit
Citation, and the Army Occupational Medal with Germany Clasp.  Therefore, his records should be corrected to show these awards.

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 Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Belgian Fourragere, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.

BOARD VOTE:  

EMW____  LEM____  CJS____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AC98-12724/AR1998012538	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19981216	
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.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.