PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                10 December 1998
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AC98-12731

	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. JoAnn H. Langston		Chairperson	
	Mr. James M. Alward		Member	
	Mr. Stanley Kelley		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 award of the Bronze Star Medal, three campaign stars to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.

3.  The applicant states that he is entitled to these awards.  In support of his application, he submitted a copy of DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 13 July 1953.

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed 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 4 October 1953.  He served in the European Theater of Operations from 21 May 1944 to July 1945 and was honorably discharged on 1 February 1946.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) does not show the Bronze Star Medal, three campaign stars to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp as authorized awards.

6.  The applicant’s discharge shows that he was entitled to the Combat Infantryman Badge.  The applicant’s records contain a DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 11 March 1997, which shows that he is entitled to the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

7.  The applicant’s discharge shows that he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars.  The DA Form 1577 submitted by the applicant shows that the applicant is entitled to three bronze service stars based on participation in the Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe Campaign.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, confirms the applicant’s unit participated in these campaigns.

8.  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 Occupation Medal.  This document shows the applicant was a member of the 71st Infantry Regiment when it received occupation credit for the period 2 May to 17 June 1945 in Germany.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, three campaign stars to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show these awards.

2.  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 the individual concerned was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, three campaign stars to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.

BOARD VOTE:  

JHL_____  JMA_____  SK_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AC98-12731/AR1998012695	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19981210	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.