PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:               24 November 1998
	DOCKET NUMBER:      AC98-11955

	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. George D. Paxson		Chairperson	
	Ms. Celia L. Adolphi		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 award of the Bronze Star Medal and three bronze service stars to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon.

3.  The applicant states the medals were awarded, but his records were never corrected.

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 28 January 1944. He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 17 August 1944 to 21 May 1945 and was honorably discharged on 29 November 1945.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) does not show the Bronze Star Medal as an authorized award.  His discharge document does show the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with “2 Bronze Sv. Stars and claims a third”.  His WD AGO 53-55 shows in item 32 (battles and Campaigns) the applicant claimed credit for the “Central Europe campaign.  The Board also notes the applicant is entitled to the Prisoner of War Medal.

6.  A letter order from the Adjutant General of the Army, dated 10 August 1953, provided by the applicant shows he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

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 during World War II.  This document shows the applicant’s unit received credit for the Central Europe campaign. 

8.  The applicant’s records show he was assigned to the 377th Infantry Regiment when he became a prisoner of war of Germany on 14 November 1944. He was returned to control of the United States on 30 April 1945.  A  DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 26 May 1988, shows the applicant was awarded the Prisoner of War Medal, but it is not shown on his discharge document.

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 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.

10.  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.

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the POW Medal.  The regulation states that the POW 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.  The applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

2.  The applicant is entitled to credit for the Central Europe campaign; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show the Central Europe campaign and an additional bronze service star (for a total of three bronze service stars) to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon.

3.  The applicant was a prisoner of war of Germany; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

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 was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Prisoner of War Medal; and

b.  by correcting his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show in item 32 “Central Europe” and to show in item 33 “EAME Theater Ribbon with 3 Bronze Service Stars”

BOARD VOTE:  

GDP____  CLA_____  RWG____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AC98-11955	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19981124	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.