PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:           28 October 1998                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-09284

	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. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. JoAnn H. Langston		Chairperson	
	Mr. Curtis W. Barbee, Jr.		Member	
	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		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 military records to show award of the Prisoner of War Medal.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, he was held by Germany as a prisoner of war during World War II.  He also contends that his discharge papers do not show his prisoner of war status.  In support of his application, the applicant submits copies of two morning reports, two newspaper articles from 1945 and his American Ex-Prisoners of War membership card. 

4.  The applicant’s military records were destroyed or lost during the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show the applicant was inducted and entered active duty on 15 March 1943.  He served as a machine gunner in the European-African-Middle-Eastern Theater from 9 December 1944 until 19 June 1945 and was separated in the grade of E-3 with an honorable discharge on
29 November 1945.  

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) does not show the Prisoner of War Medal as an authorized award.  

6.  Informal coordination with the Prisoner of War Branch of the Total Army Personnel Command revealed the applicant was listed as a prisoner of war during World War II. 

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the Prisoner of War Medal.  The regulation states that the Prisoner of War Medal was authorized on 8 November 1985 and is awarded to individuals who in past armed conflicts were taken prisoner or held captive.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows the applicant was a prisoner of war during World War II; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his military records to show award of the Prisoner of War Medal.

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 Prisoner of War Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

JHL____  CWB____  RVO_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON