PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:  26 August 1999                        
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR1998013519

	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	
	Ms. Rosa M. Chandler		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Shirley L. Powell		Chairperson	
	Mr. Samuel Calderon		Member	
	Ms. Barbara J. Ellis		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, in effect, correction of his records to show awards that he was authorized and has never received.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he was issued no awards while he was in service.  Therefore, he would like to have all of the awards that he is entitled to and never received.  He submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, Honorable Discharge), a letter, and a copy of a citation which shows that Company A, 253rd Regiment, the company to which he was assigned, was cited for outstanding performance against the enemy forces from 17-24 February 1945.

4.  The applicant’s military records show he was inducted into the inactive Enlisted Reserve Corps on 27 January 1944.  On 17 February 1944 he entered active duty status.  He completed basic and advanced individual training and was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 745 (Rifleman).  He served in the Rhineland from 8 December 1944-9 April 1945, and he was wounded on 
24 February 1945.  On 28 March 1946, he was honorably discharged.

5.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he was awarded the Purple Heart, the American Theater Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (with one bronze service star), the Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, and the Honorable Discharge Lapel Button, which was issued to the applicant at the time of discharge. 

6.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) or the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) as authorized awards. 

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.

8.  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.  Headquarters Department of the Army General Orders Number 45, dated 1946, awarded the applicant's unit the DUC. 
9.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) indicates that Company A, 253rd Regiment was cited for award of the DUC for the period 17-24 February 1945.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant is entitled to award of the BSM and the DUC.

2.  The applicant will be advised by separate action of the procedures that he must follow to obtain replacement awards and decorations.

3.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by issuing to the individual concerned a DD Form 215 (Correction to WD AGO Form 53-55) issued on 28 March 1946 showing that the individual was awarded the BSM and the DUC.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

SLP_____  SL_____  BJE_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999015859	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	1990826	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19460328	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR615-361  	
DISCHARGE REASON	Certificate of Disability Discharge	
BOARD DECISION	(PARTIALGRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	ASA	
ISSUES         1.	A92.03 	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.