PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                 4 August 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999017170

	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 K. McCoy		Chairperson	
	Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright		Member	
	Mr. George D. Paxson		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 all battles and campaigns to which he is entitled.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the appropriate battles and campaigns to which he is entitled.  He also states that he was not awarded any medals for the Battle of the Bulge during World War II.

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 9 December 
1943.  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 14 January 1945 to 9 July 1945 and was honorably discharged on 16 April 1946.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the American Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with two bronze service stars, the World War II Victory Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.  

6.  The Board notes that the applicant has requested “campaign medals” for participation in the Battle of the Bulge.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, authorizes campaign medals for service during World War II.  This regulation provides that the European African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for service in the European Theater and participation in specific campaigns was recognized by award of a bronze service star to be worn on the European African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.  This regulation does not authorize any specific service awards for the Battle of the Bulge.

7.  The Board notes that the applicant served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operation and participated in the Central Europe and Rhineland Campaign.  The Board also notes that he is entitled to the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign which occurred from 16 December 1944 and which is not shown on his WD AGO Form 53-55.

8.  The Board notes that the applicant is entitled to the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the CIB, the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, which are not shown on his discharge document.

9.  The applicant was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation by 87th Infantry Division General Orders Number 165, dated 4 June 1945.

10.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign 
Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows the applicant’s unit
(Co A, 346th Infantry Regiment, 87th Infantry Division) received occupation credit for qualifying service in Germany from 20 May 1945 to 13 June 1945.

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, provides, in pertinent part, that the European-
African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is awarded for service within the European African-Middle Eastern Theater between 7 December 1941 and 8 November 1945 for any service member in a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 consecutive days, and in active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps or higher unit or independent force showing that he actually participated in combat.  

12.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, authorizes award of the bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation and states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate service medal.

13.  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.

14.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Army of Occupation Medal is awarded for service of thirty consecutive days at a normal post of duty in a qualifying location.  Personnel at a qualifying location as an inspector, courier, escort, temporary or detached duty are precluded from eligibility.  For Germany service must have been between 9 May 1945 and 5 May
1955 and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal must have been awarded prior to 9 May 1945.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant served in the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign.  Therefore, he is entitled to three bronze service stars to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Medal and is entitled to correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 Form to show this award.

2.  The Board noted the applicant’s contention that he was not awarded any medals for the Battle of the Bulge during World War II; however, Army Regulation 600-8-22 does not provide for any specific service awards for the Battle of the Bulge.

3.  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.

4.  The applicant was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his record to show these awards.

5.  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 European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars, the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.

BOARD VOTE:  

FKM____  INW____  GDP_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Fred K. McCoy_________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999017170	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990804	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19460416	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  61		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.