MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:	 

	BOARD DATE:            30 June 1999                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:	AR1999015416

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

	Mr. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Mr. G. E. Vandenberg		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. George D. Paxson		Chairperson	
	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		Member	
	Mr. John P. Infante		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                       records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  Reconsideration of his previous application to correct his records by showing he received the Combat Medical Badge (CMB), the Belgian Fourragere, the French Fourragere, the Jubilee Medal of Normandy and by showing he was a first sergeant.  (NOTE: The Jubilee Medal of Normandy is not an official military award but rather a private issue anniversary commemorative medal, therefore it is not within the scope of this Board to take action upon this aspect of the applicant’s request.)

APPLICANT STATES:  In effect that his unit received the two Fourragere while he was hospitalized.  He contends that as a medic he is entitled to the CMB and that he was told that if he reenlisted overseas he would be entitled to a “step increase”.

NEW EVIDENCE OR INFORMATION:  The applicant’s case is reopened in accordance with the Army Board for Correction of Military Records Reconsideration Project (ABCMR-RP) criteria.  The applicant’s previous requests were administratively closed and the applicant's military records have been lost or destroyed.  Information herein was obtained from SGO Files and copies of official documents submitted by the applicant.

SGO Files were obtained and do not appear to have previously been considered by the Board, therefore, it is appropriate to refer them to the Board for review. 

A health record research project, commonly referred to as the "SGO Files", involved transposing the hospital admission card data from the periods of World War II and the Korean conflict onto magnetic tape.  In 1988 the National Research Council made these tape files available to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).  The availability of the information to the NPRC received considerable publicity by the various veterans’ service organizations.  It was widely believed that these tapes would become a valuable substitute for the records lost in the NPRC fire of 1973.  A search of these files shows that the applicant was wounded on two occasions as a result of enemy action and was hospitalized for treatment of a psychoneurosis, anxiety on three occasions.

The applicant’s records show that he entered active duty on 9 May 1941.  He served as a member of the 110th Field Hospital and attained the permanent rank of tech sergeant.  His records do show that he was acting first sergeant for this unit.  His awards and decoration include the Purple Heart with bronze oak leaf cluster, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars, the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp and the World War II Victory Medal.

Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Medical Badge is awarded to medical department personnel (colonels and below) who are assigned or attached to a medical unit of company or smaller size that is organic to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental or smaller size which is engaged in active ground combat.  Battle participation credit is not sufficient; the infantry unit must have been in contact with the enemy. 

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  There is no evidence that neither the applicant nor his unit received the Belgian Fourragere or the French Fourragere. 

2.  Although the applicant’s company supported operations of infantry companies, assignment to a field hospital does not meet the requirements for qualifying service for the Combat Medical Badge. 

3.  It is not uncommon for personnel to serve in positions higher then their official rank especially during periods of war.  Holding a titled position does not incur any automatic promotional consideration.  The limited evidence of record clearly shows that the applicant was such a person and that his highest rank held was tech sergeant.

4.  The overall merits of the case, including the latest submissions and arguments are insufficient as a basis for the Board to reverse its previous decision.

5.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__GDP__  ___AAO_  ___JPI___  DENY APPLICATION

						Loren G. Harrell
						Director

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999015416	
SUFFIX		
RECON	 	
DATE BOARDED	19990630	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD )	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	 	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	  . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES        1.	107.0096	
2.	107.0097	
3.	107.0113	
4.	129.05	
5.		
6.