PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:        

	BOARD DATE:           18 August 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1998012868

	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. Jessie B. Strickland		Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Edward Williamson		Member	
	Ms. 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 that he be awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge during World War II (WW II) and that he did not receive the Bronze Star Medal when other members of his unit were awarded the medal during a ceremony.  In support of his application he submits a copy of his report of separation (WD AGO Form 53-55).

4.  The applicant’s military records were destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center at St. Louis, Missouri.  However, his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that the applicant was inducted on 17 July 1942.  He served in the European-African-Middle-Eastern (EAME) theater of operations from 1 March 1945 until 7 September 1945.  He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), the Good Conduct Medal, the American Theater Service Medal, the WW II Victory Medal,  and the EAME Service Medal.  He was honorably discharged in the rank of corporal on 17 November 1945.

5.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Bronze Star Medal is awarded for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service in military operations against an armed enemy.  The Bronze Star Medal is authorized for each individual who was cited in orders or awarded a certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945 or whose achievement or service, during that period, was confirmed by documents executed prior to 1 July 1947.  An award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) or the Combat Medical Badge is considered to be a citation in orders.  This means, in effect, that the Bronze Star Medal is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service during World War II.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Although the authorization to award members the Bronze Star Medal was not enacted until after the applicant separated from the service, he nevertheless should have received the award based on his having been awarded the CIB.  Therefore, it would also be in the interest of justice to correct the administrative oversight at this time.

2.  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 for meritorious service during World War II.

BOARD VOTE:  

___sw___  __elw___  __rvo ___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1998012868	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	1999/08/18	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  60 	107.0014/BSM	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.