PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                14 October 1998
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AC98-10867

	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. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Mr. Ernest M. Wilcher		Member	
	Mr. Robert W. Garrett		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 credit for the Anzio Campaign and award of the Presidential Unit Citation.

3.  The applicant states that these awards were omitted from his discharge.  He also states that he received the Bronze Star Medal and that award was also not shown on his discharge document.

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 was inducted on 11 February 1943.  The applicant served in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations from 2 November 1943 to 1 December 1945 and was honorably discharged on 19 December 1945.   

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) does not show credit for the Anzio Campaign in item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) and does not show award of the Presidential Unit Citation or the Bronze Star Medal.  However, his WD AGO Form 53-55 does show the Combat Infantryman Badge in item 31 (Military Qualification and Date).

6.  Records show the applicant was a member of the 30th Infantry Regiment during the period of the Anzio Campaign (22 January to 24 May 1944).  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows, among other information, campaign credit for World War II.  This document shows the 30th Infantry Regiment received credit for the Anzio Campaign.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Presidential Unit Citation (known as the Distinguished Unit Citation until 3 November 1966) is awarded for extraordinary heroism in action. A unit must display such gallantry, determination and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission as would warrant award of the Distinguished Service Cross to an individual.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) indicates the 1st battalion of the 30th Infantry Regiment was cited for the Distinguished Unit Citation for the period 6 to 7 September 1944 by War Department General Order Number 18-45.

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 also 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 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 this badge for service during World War II.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant participated in the Anzio Campaign; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this campaign and to show award of one additional bronze service star to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal.

2.  The applicant was a member of the 1st Battalion 30th Infantry Regiment when it was cited for award of the Distinguished Unit Citation; therefore, he is entitled to award of the Distinguished Unit Citation.

3.  The applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

4.  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:

a.  by showing the individual concerned received credit for the Anzio Campaign;

b.  by showing he was awarded an additional bronze service star to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal;

c.  by showing he was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation, now known as the Presidential Unit Citation; and 

d.  by showing he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

BOARD VOTE:  

JNS_____  EMW_____  RWG__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON