PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                 22 October 1998
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AC98-10345

	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:

	Ms. June Hajjar		Chairperson	
	Mr. Fred K. McCoy		Member	
	Ms. Shirley L. Powell		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 records to show an occupation or a campaign medal for the invasion of Biak Island in 1944 or 1945.

3.  The applicant states that he should have received an occupation medal or a campaign medal for the invasion of Biak Island.

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 that the applicant was inducted on 25 February 1945.  He served in the Pacific Theater from 6 April 1942 until 7 June 1945 and was honorably discharged on 15 June 1945.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) shows that he received the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars for the New Guinea, Papua, and Southern Philippines Campaigns and two bronze arrowhead devices for the amphibious landings in New Guinea and the Southern Philippines Campaigns; the Good Conduct Medal; the American Defense Service Medal; and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one bronze service star.

6.  The Board notes that there is no indication in the available records that the applicant received any awards directly related to the assault on Biak Island.  However, the Board does note that the applicant is entitled to an additional bronze service star to be worn on his Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal for the Luzon Campaign, award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation, and award of the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation which are not shown on his discharge document.

7.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows, among other information, campaign credit, credit for assault landings and credit for occupation duty during World War II.  This document shows the 41st Quartermaster Company, in which the applicant served during World War II, received credit for the Luzon Campaign.

8.  The Unit Citation and Campaign Credit Register does not show the 41st Quartermaster Company received assault landing credit for operations on Biak Island, New Guinea.  However, this document does show that only the Band, Division Artillery headquarters and Special Troops headquarters of the 41st Infantry Division received assault landing credit for operations on Biak Island on 27 May 1944.

9.  The Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register shows the 41st Quartermaster Company received credit for occupation duty in Japan from 25 October 1945 to 20 January 1946 during World War II.  This document does not show occupation credit was authorized for operations involving Biak Island, New Guinea.

10.  The applicant’s unit was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation while he was assigned to it.  This award was authorized by Headquarters 41st Infantry Division General Orders Number 4, dated 10 January 1945.

11.  The applicant’s unit was awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation while he was assigned to it.  This award was authorized by Department of the Army General Order Number 47-50.

12.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, for award of the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.  It is awarded for service in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946.  Qualifying service for this award includes permanent assignment in the theater, service in a passenger or a temporary duty status for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or active combat against the enemy and award of a combat decoration or a certificate by the commanding general of a corps or higher unit showing actual participation in combat.

13.  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 campaign or service medal.

14.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, for the “arrowhead” to be worn on the appropriate service medal to denote participation in a combat parachute jump, helicopter assault landing, combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing while assigned or attached as a member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission.  The regulation requires that the unit must be credited with a combat assault in order for the soldiers to receive credit for a combat assault and the soldier must physically exit the aircraft or the watercraft as appropriate. The regulation also specifies that the arrowhead is authorized for wear on the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

15.  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.  Qualifying service in Japan included service in the Japanese home islands, the Ryukyu Islands and the Bonin-Volcano Islands between 3 September 1945 and 27 April 1952.  Service between 3 September 1945 and 2 March 1946 is qualifying only if the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was earned prior to 3 September 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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant’s unit received campaign credit for the Luzon Campaign while he was assigned to it.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his record to show the Luzon Campaign and to show one additional bronze service star to be worn on his Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal.

2.  After correction of the applicant’s record as directed in paragraph 1, above, the applicant will have received credit for all campaigns to which his unit was entitled during World War II.  Therefore, he is not entitled to correction of his records to show any additional campaign credit related to operations on Biak Island or any other operations during World War II.

3.  There is no evidence of record which shows that the applicant was a member of the elements of the 41st Division which received credit for the assault landing on Biak Island, New Guinea, on 27 May 1944.  Therefore, he is not entitled to correction of his records to show an additional bronze arrowhead device to be worn on his Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.

4.  Evidence of record shows the applicant was separated from active duty prior to the period of service for which his unit was authorized the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp.  Therefore, the applicant is not entitled to correction of his records to show the Army of Occupation Medal.

5.  The applicant is entitled to the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation; therefore, his records should be corrected to show these awards.

6. In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing the individual concerned participated in the Luzon Campaign and was awarded one additional bronze service star to be worn on his Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

JH _____  _FKM___  SLP _____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON