PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:               24 November 1998
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AC98-12124

	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 Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and to show the date he was wounded.

3.  The applicant states he was never awarded the CIB even though his military occupational specialty (MOS) was infantry.  He also states that he was wounded and received the Purple Heart, but there is no date of his wounds shown on his discharge.

4.  The applicant’s military records show he was inducted on 9 March 1944.  He served in the European Theater of Operations from 16 January 1945 until he was medically evacuated due to illness on 1 April 1945 and ultimately returned to the United States.  He was honorably discharged on 21 April 1946.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) shows in item 31 (Military Qualification and Date) the entry “CIB GO 84 HQ 11 AD 2 May 1945. [Combat Infantryman Badge General Orders 84 Headquarters 11th Armored Division, dated 2 May 1945].  The Board notes the applicant is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the CIB which is not shown on his discharge document. 

6.  The applicant’s records do not show the date he was wounded or the order authorizing award of the Purple Heart.  The Awards Branch of the Total Army Personnel Command conducted an extensive search of the unit orders of the 11 Armored Division which revealed 11th Armored Division General Order Number 49, dated 31 March 1945, which awarded the applicant the Purple Heart for wounds received on 29 March 1945.

7.  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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s WD AGO 53-55 shows the CIB as an authorized award; therefore, the applicant is not entitled to correction of his discharge document to show this award.
2.  Evidence of records shows the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 29 March 1945; therefore, he is entitled to correction of item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show the entry “29 MARCH 1945”. 

3.  The applicant was awarded the CIB; therefore, he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the CIB and 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:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing the individual concerned was wounded on 29 March 1945 and that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the CIB.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

GDP__  CLA_____  RWG___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

______  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

______  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AC98-12124/AR1999014905	
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.