PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                7 October 1998
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AC98-10324

	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. Samuel A. Crumpler		Chairperson	
	Mr. James E. Vick		Member	
	Mr. Luther L. Santiful		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 credit for the Southern France Campaign.

3.  The applicant states that he served in the Southern France Campaign in August 1944, and it is not listed on his discharge.

4.  The applicant’s military records were destroyed or lost in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show he entered active duty on 8 December 1942.  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 4 November 1943 to 18 October 1945 and was honorably discharged on 4 November 1945.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show credit for the Southern France Campaign in item 32 (Battles and Campaigns).  The Board notes the applicant is entitled to the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp which is not shown on the discharge document.

6.  Appendix B of Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) shows the Southern France Campaign occurred from 15 August to 14 September 1944 during World War II.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows, among other information, campaign credit.  This document shows the 927th Signal Battalion received campaign credit for the Southern France Campaign, and records indicate that the applicant was a member of the 927th Signal Battalion during this campaign.

7.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows, among other information, credit for occupation duty during World War II.  This document shows the 927th Signal Battalion received credit for occupation duty during World War II from 2 May to 14 August 1945.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, authorizes award of a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation and states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate service medal.

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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant is entitled to credit for the Southern France Campaign during World War II, therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show the Southern France Campaign and, as a result, he is entitled to wear an additional bronze service star on his European-African-Middle Eastern Service Ribbon.

2.  The applicant was assigned to the 927th Signal Battalion when it received credit for occupation duty in Germany during World War II; therefore, he is entitled to award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.

3.  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 received credit for the Southern France Campaign, was awarded an additional bronze service star to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, and was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.

BOARD VOTE:  

SAC___  JEV_____  LLS_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON