PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                 28 July 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999016979

	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. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Ms. Lana E. McGlynn		Member	
	Ms. Margaret V. Thompson		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 WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) be corrected to show that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and that he is entitled to the award of the Bronze Star based on the CIB.  In support of his application he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55.

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 that he was inducted on 7 June 1943.
He served as a mortar crewman in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater
of Operations from 4 December 1943 to 24 October 1945 and was honorably discharged on 19 November 1945.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with four bronze service stars and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

6.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the Bronze Star as an authorized award.

7.  The Board notes that his WD AGO 53-55 does not show the World War II Victory Medal.

8.  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.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the World War II Victory Medal.  It is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946, both dates inclusive.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was awarded the CIB during World War II; therefore, he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.
2.  The applicant is entitled to the award of the World War II Victory Medal based on his service in World War II; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his record to show this award.

3.  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 in item 33 (Decoration and Awards) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and the World War II Victory Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

FNE____  LEM_____  MVT____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Fred N. Eichorn_______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999016979	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990728	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19451119	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR .615-365	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  60		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.