PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:               30 December 1998
	DOCKET NUMBER:      AC98-12245
				      AR1998013887

	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. Hubert S. Shaw, Jr.		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. George D. Paxson		Chairperson	
	Ms. Sheri V. Ward		Member	
	Mr. Van B. Cunningham		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 WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to show his correct permanent mailing address and to show entitlement to all of his awards.

3.  The applicant states his address should have been as “MAIN” Street instead of “MILK” Street.

4.  The applicant’s military records show he entered active duty on 11 January 1945.  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 1 February 1944 to 1 September 1945.  The applicant was honorably discharged on 23 September 1945. 

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows his permanent mailing address as “191 MILK STREET”.  The Board notes the applicant is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Army of Occupation Medal and the World War II Victory Medal which are not shown on his discharge document.

6.  The applicant’s records show that, at the time of his enlistment in the National Guard, he listed his mother as his nearest relative at the address “175 Main Street Winchendon, Massachusetts”.  Upon entering active duty, the applicant listed his wife as next of kin at the address of “141 Main Street” and subsequently at 191 Mill Street, both in Winchendon, Massachusetts.

7.  The applicant’s records show he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge by 30th Division Special Orders Number 88, dated 14 July 1944.  A DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 16 March 1978, shows the applicant was issued the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also 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 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.

9.  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.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 
672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows the applicant’s unit received occupation credit for the period 2 May to 5 July 1945, thus entitlement to the Army Occupation Medal for service in Germany.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the World War II Victory Medal.  It is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946, both dates inclusive.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows that, at the time of the applicant’s separation from active duty, his next of kin resided at 191 Mill Street in Winchendon, Massachusetts.  Therefore, the Board has determined that item 9 (Permanent Address for Mailing Purposes) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 should be corrected to show 191 Mill Street instead of 191 Milk Street.

2.  The applicant is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge; therefore, his records should be corrected to show award of the Bronze Star Medal.

3.  The applicant was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp and the World War II Victory Medal; therefore, his records should be corrected to show these awards.

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

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:

a.  by showing “191 MILL STREET” instead of “191 MILK STREET” in item 9 of the WD AGO Form 53-55 of the individual concerned; and

b.  by showing he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp and the World War II Victory Medal.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

GDP____  SVW____  VBC____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AC98-12245/AR1998013887	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	1998/12/30	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	MR SCHNEIDER	
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.	100.00	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.