PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                19 May 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999024764

	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. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Mr. Robert G. Hinkle		Member	
	Mr. Roger W. Able		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, all the medals to which he is entitled.

3.  The applicant states that he never received the “Normandy, Rhineland, Northern France Medal”.  He also states the he never received the “African Eastern Service Medal” which is correctly called the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal. 

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 17 October 1942. He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations as a radio operator from 12 June 1944 to 3 march 1945.  The applicant was honorably discharged on 21 September 1945.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) shows in item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) credit for participation in the Normandy, Rhineland and Northern France Campaigns.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows in Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) of that he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal and the Purple Heart. 

6.  There is no indication in the applicant’s personnel records that he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal.  There also is no evidence the applicant was disqualified by his unit commander for award of the Good Conduct Medal.  There is no indication of indiscipline or lost time in his records.

7.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows in item 37 (Length of Service) 2 years, 1 month and 23 days of service in the Continental United States.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, (Military Awards) authorizes award of the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal for qualifying service in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations for the period 7 December 1941 to 8 November 1945.  This regulation also authorizes a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of the WD AGO Form 53-55 and states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate campaign or service medal including the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal.  

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  The regulation states that, after 27 August 1940, three years of qualifying service was required for award of the Good Conduct Medal, but during the World War II era, the first award could be made based on one year of qualifying service provided that service occurred between 7 December 1941 to 2 March 1946. The current standard for award of the Good Conduct Medal is 3 years of qualifying service, but as little as one year is required for the first award in those cases when the period of service ends with the termination of Federal military service.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the American Campaign Medal.  This campaign medal is awarded for qualifying service in the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946.  Qualifying service includes service within the continental United States for an aggregate period of one year.

11.  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 Service 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, will show whether or not a World War II unit was authorized occupation credit, thus entitlement to the Army of Occupation Medal.  Page 340 of the Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register shows that the unit to which the applicant was assigned received occupation credit for the period 2 May to 14 August 1945 in Germany.

12.  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.  The applicant received credit for participation in the Normandy, Rhineland and Northern France Campaigns; therefore, he is entitled to three bronze service stars to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal.

2.  The applicant is entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal, as an exception to regulation, based on completion of a period of at least one year of qualifying service during World War II ending with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

3.  The applicant served a period of qualifying service for award of the American Campaign Medal; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

4.  The applicant served during World War II in a unit which received occupation credit for service in Germany; therefore, he is entitled to the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp and correction of his records to show this award.

5.  Based on the applicant’s service during World War II, he is entitled to award of the World War II Victory Medal and correction of his records to show this award.

6. 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:

a.  by awarding the individual concerned three bronze service stars to be worn on his showing the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal and correcting his records to show these service stars;

b.  by awarding him the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 31 October 1942 through 21 September 1945 and correcting his records to show this award;

c.  by awarding him the American Campaign Medal, Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp and the World War II Victory Medal and correcting his records to show these awards.

BOARD VOTE:  

JNS_____  RGH____  RWA___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		John N. Slone_________
		CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1998024764	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990519	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19450921	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-361. . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON	DISABILITY DISCHARGE	
BOARD DECISION	(NC, GRANT , DENY, GRANT PLUS)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	MR HARRELL	
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.