2.  The applicant requests in effect, correction of his records to show he was a sergeant, not a corporal.  He states that there is no way he could have held military occupational specialty (MOS) 0824 (Mess Steward) if he had only been a corporal.  He was never used as a mess sergeant.  He finished a U.S. Air Force course while he was at Fort Hood, TX.  He may also have a question about his Parachutist and Glider Badges.

3.  The applicant’s military records show that, after an initial period of service in the U. S. Navy, he enlisted in the Regular Army on 27 November 1946 in grade Technician 4.

4.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 24A, Service Record, shows the applicant qualified as a parachutist on 25 October 1947 and was awarded the Parachutist Badge.  There is no record of his attending Glider training or being awarded the Glider Badge.  His additional awards shown on his WD AGO Form 24A are the World War II Victory Medal and, from his Navy service, the American Theater Medal (now the American Campaign Medal), the Occupation of Japan Ribbon (now the Army of Occupation of Japan Medal), the Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon (now the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal) and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon.  (After one 5-day period that was originally rated as “satisfactory” was changed to a non-rated period, he was determined to be eligible for the Army Good Conduct Medal.)

5.  Headquarters, Department of the Army converted the grade of Technician     4 to Corporal on 1 August 1948.

6.  WD AGO Form 20, Soldiers Qualification Card, shows the applicant’s duty MOS as cook during his entire period of service.  It does show he held or was awarded MOS 0824, Mess Steward, semi-skilled, in 1946.

7.  There is no evidence in his records to show he attended an Air Force course and he has not supplied such evidence.

8.  The applicant was sent to Officer Candidate School (OCS) on 31 March 1949 and he was promoted to sergeant at that time.  He did not complete the course and on 23 May 1949 his grade reverted back to corporal.

9.  On 26 October 1949, the applicant was honorably separated in the grade of Corporal.

10.  Army Regulation 351-5 provides that, upon enrollment in an officer candidate class, candidates will be promoted to pay grade E-5 if they then held a lower grade.  Individuals who are promoted on the basis of their attending OCS, and who fail to complete the course successfully, may be reduced to the grade held before entering OCS.

11. The Glider Badge is no longer awarded.  However, it may be awarded retroactively upon application to the Commander, PERSCOM, ATTN:  TAPC-PDA, 200 Stovall Street, Alexandria, VA  22332-0471, when it can be established by means of sufficient documentation that the proficiency tests then prescribed were satisfactorily completed while assigned or attached to an airborne unit or to the Airborne Department of the Infantry School.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  All evidence in the applicant’s records shows he separated from the Army as a Corporal E-4.  Technician 4 was automatically converted to Corporal on           1 August 1948.  He had been promoted to Sergeant E-5 when he attended OCS, but because he did not complete the course he was reduced, without prejudice, back to Corporal.

2.  His WD AGO Form 20 shows his duty MOS as cook throughout his entire period of service, although he did hold or was awarded MOS 0824, Mess Steward and listed as semi-skilled, sometime in 1946.

3.  There is no evidence in his records to show he attended Glider School or was awarded the Glider Badge.  If he has documentation to show he satisfactorily completed the prescribed proficiency tests to be awarded the Badge, he may make application to PERSCOM for retroactive award of the Badge.

4.  There is no evidence in his records to show he attended an Air Force school.

5.  The applicant’s Report of Separation is incorrect in that it does not show any of the decorations to which he is entitled.

6.  In view of the foregoing, it would be proper to correct the applicant’s records as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual is entitled to award of the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Parachutist Badge, the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Army of Occupation of Japan Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon.

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

BOARD VOTE:

                       GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

                       GRANT FORMAL HEARING

                       DENY APPLICATION

                                                                         
    CHAIRPERSON