PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:            11 March 1999                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999015833

	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. Deborah L. Brantley		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Celia L. Adolphi		Chairperson	
	Mr. Van B. Cunningham		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 award of the Purple Heart and a fourth bronze service star.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty on 30 March 1943 and was assigned to the European Theater of Operations in November 1944 as a rifleman with Company C of the 291st Infantry Regiment.

4.  According to a Western Union Telegram he was slightly wounded on 9 March 1945 while in Germany.  He returned to the United States in January 1946 and on 23 January 1946 was released from active duty as a result of demobilization.  His separation document does not reflect entitlement to the Purple Heart but does reflect entitlement to three bronze service stars denoting participation in three designated campaign periods.

5.  A review of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) confirms the applicant’s unit (291st Infantry Regiment) was credited with participating in only three designated campaigns during World War II.  However, the pamphlet does note the unit was awarded an Army of Occupation Medal with “Germany” clasp for the period 
2 May 1945 through 5 July 1945.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record confirms the applicant was wounded in Germany on 
9 March 1945 and as such is entitled to an award of the Purple Heart.

2.  The applicant’s unit was only credited with participating in three designated campaign periods during World War II, and as such the three bronze service stars reflected on his separation document is correct.  However, the evidence shows the applicant is entitled to an Army of Occupation Medal with “Germany” clasp as a result of his service with the 291st Infantry Regiment.

3.  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:

a.  by awarding the individual concerned the Purple Heart for wounds sustained on 9 March 1945 while in Germany; and

b.  by showing that he is entitled to the Army of Occupation Medal with “Germany” clasp based on his service with the 291st Infantry Regiment.

BOARD VOTE:  

___cla__  ___vbc__  ____clg_  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999015833	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990311	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(NC, GRANT , DENY, GRANT PLUS)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1. 107.00		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.