PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:            29 July 1999                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999015488

	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. Paul A. Petty		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Charles H. Loudermon		Chairperson	
	Ms. Shirley L. Powell		Member	
	Mr. Curtis L. Greenway		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, that his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation from World War II show his combat unit of assignment, his infantry military occupational specialty (MOS), his highest rank held, that he be awarded any military awards for which he is authorized but has not received; and that he receive a separation certificate for the same period showing his highest rank held and his combat unit of assignment.

3.  The applicant states that during WWII, he was in combat with Company K, 
394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division following the Battle of the Bulge.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 15 January 1942.  After completing training, he was assigned as a light truck driver.  On 29 April 1943, he was shipped overseas to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations arriving on 11 May 1943.  He participated two campaigns.  On 
22 August 1944, he was transferred to the European Theater of Operations arriving 30 August 1944 where he participated in 3 campaigns.  He advanced to the rank of Corporal (CPL).

5.  The applicant is one of 2221 Negro Volunteers that volunteered for infantry duty in response to a call for such volunteers from non-combat units to replaces infantry losses following the Battle of the Bulge in WWII.  A condition of volunteering for Negro soldiers was administrative reduction to Private (PVT) or Private First Class (PFC).  After volunteering, the applicant received combat infantry training in France and was assigned to Company K, 394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division, as a Rifleman, 745, at the rank of Private First Class (PFC).  He fought with this unit in combat.  He departed Europe on 
14 September 1945 and arrived back in the United States on 20 September 1945.  He was honorably discharged on 28 September 1945 by reason of demobilization.  He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge (CIB), the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (but the record does not list bronze service stars), and the Good Conduct Medal.

6.  According to Army Regulation 600-8-2, Military Awards, paragraph 3-13, a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945, was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), the Combat Medical Badge (CMB), or other certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat against an armed enemy, is eligible for award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM).

7.  According to Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, the Army of Occupation Medal for Germany is authorized for soldiers who served 
30 consecutive days in Germany (exclusive of Berlin) between 9 May 1945 and 
5 May 1955.  Service between 9 May and 8 November 1945 will be counted only if the European-African-Middle Easter Campaign Medal was awarded for service before 9 May 1945.

8.  The World War II Victory Medal is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946 according to Army Regulation 600-8-2, Military Awards, paragraph 5-11.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's Enlisted Record and Report of Separation from World War II should show his combat unit of assignment as Company K, 394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division; his MOS as Rifleman, 745; and his grade the same as his highest rank held, CPL.

2.  His separation certificate for the same period should show Corporal and his combat unit of assignment as Company K, 394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division.

3.  He is authorized the following additional awards which should be noted on his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation and the medals provided to him: the Bronze Star Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal for Germany, and the World War II Victory Medal.

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 for the individual concerned by:

	a.  correcting his Honorable Enlisted Record and Report of Separation from World War II to show his combat unit of assignment as Company K, 
394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division; his MOS as Rifleman, 745; and his grade the same as his highest rank held, CPL;

	b.  issuing him a new Honorable Discharge Certificate, DD Form 257A, dated 28 September 1945 showing his rank as Corporal and his combat unit of assignment as Company K, 394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division: 

	c.  showing on his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation the following additional awards and providing him with the medals: the Bronze Star Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal for Germany, and the World War II Victory Medal; and
	d.  showing on his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation the award of European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 5 bronze service stars.

BOARD VOTE:  

_chl_____  _slp ____  _clg ____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Charles H. Loudermon________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999015488	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990729	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.