PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            2 December 1998                 
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-09390

	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. Lee Cates		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. George D. Paxson		Member	
	Mr. John H. Kern		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 his records be corrected to show entitlement to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

3.	The applicant states he served in the 3rd Infantry Division.

4.	The applicant’s reconstructed military records show he was inducted on        9 October 1943 and entered active duty on 1 November 1943.  He completed his required training and was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 345 (Light Truck Driver).  He served in the European Theater of Operation from       18 May 1944 to 10 February 1946, in his MOS.
 
5.  His WD AGO Form (Service Record and Report of Separation) does not show the Combat Infantryman Badge as an authorized award.  The Board notes the applicant is entitled to award of the American Campaign Medal; the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp; the French Fourragere; and, the Assault Landing Arrowhead Device (to be worn on the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal), which are not shown on the applicant’s WD AGO 53-55.

6.  His War Department Form 372A (Final Payment - Work Sheet) shows he was paid Combat Infantry Pay for the period 1 November 1945 to 25 February 1946.

7.  War Department Circular 269-1943 established the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Expert Infantryman Badge to recognize and provide an incentive to infantrymen.  The Expert Infantryman Badge was awarded for attainment of certain proficiency standards or by satisfactory performance of duty in action against the enemy.  The Combat Infantryman Badge was awarded for exemplary conduct in action against the enemy.  War Department Circular 186-1944 further provided that the Combat Infantryman Badge was to be awarded only to infantrymen serving with infantry units of brigade, regimental or smaller size.  Additionally, World War II holders of the Combat Infantryman Badge received a monthly pay supplement known as combat infantry pay and holders of the Expert Infantryman Badge were entitled to expert infantry pay.  Therefore, soldiers had economic as well as intangible reasons to insure that their records were correct. Thus, pay records are frequently the best available source to verify entitlement to this award.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) 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 such 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 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, for the award of the American Campaign Medal.  This campaign medal is awarded for qualifying service between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946.  Qualifying service includes permanent assignment outside the continental United States, duty as a crewmember aboard a vessel sailing ocean waters for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or duty outside the continental United States as a passenger or in a temporary duty status for 30 consecutive or                            60 nonconsecutive days, or active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by a corps commander or higher, or service within the continental United States for an aggregate period of one year.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) 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.

11.  Army Regulation 672-1 (Unit Awards) provides, in pertinent part, that an individual must have been serving in a unit when it was awarded the Croix de Guerre twice in order to be entitled to permanent authorization.

12.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), indicates, in pertinent part, that the French Fourragere may be awarded by the French Government when a unit has been cited twice for the Croix de Guerre.

13.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), indicates, in pertinent part, that assault landing credit (award of the bronze arrowhead) may be made to units of the Army who, in the combat zone of a battle, campaign, or expedition: (1) makes a parachute jump into enemy-held territory as part of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission; (2) participates in the assault waves of an amphibious landing on enemy-held territory; or (3) makes a helicopter assault landing into enemy-held territory as part of an organizational force carrying out an assigned tactical mission.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant is entitled to the Combat Infantryman Badge; the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge); the American Campaign Medal; the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp; the French Fourragere; and, the Assault Landing Arrowhead Device (to be worn on the European-African-Middle Eastern Service 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 the individual concerned was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge; the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge); the American Campaign Medal; the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp; the French Fourragere; and, the Assault Landing Arrowhead Device (to be worn on the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal).

BOARD VOTE:  

RVO____  GDP____  JHK_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON