PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:            5 August 1999     
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999018276

	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. Kenneth Aucock		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Mark D. Manning		Chairperson	
	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		Member	
	Mr. Ernest W. Lutz, Jr.		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.  In effect, the applicant requests that his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) show his organization as Company B,         88th Signal Battalion (Special), and that his record show that he completed the Midwest Signal Corps Switchboard Installation School (Camp Crowder, Missouri).  He also requests campaign credit for the Solomon Islands Guadalcanal; for the invasion of New Georgia and Bougainville, for the invasion of Luzon in the Philippine Islands, and for the occupation of Japan. 

3.  The applicant made no other statement. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Army on             25 August 1942 for the duration of the war, plus six months.  On 29 August 1942 the applicant reported to the 233d Signal Operations Company at Camp Crowder, Missouri.  A copy of the applicant's WD AGO Form 100 (Separation Qualification Record), which he submits with his application, shows that he completed the 14 week Midwest Signal Corps Switchboard Installation School.   

5.  On 13 June 1943 the applicant departed the United States, arriving in Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands on 13 July 1943.  On 17 August 1943 he arrived in New Georgia, an island in the central Solomon Islands.  The applicant’s service record is somewhat indecipherable, however, it does show that he was presented the Good Conduct Medal on Bougainville, another island of the Solomons, on 30 September 1944.

6.  His service record shows that his unit, the 233d Signal Operations Company, was redesignated and reorganized effective 14 June 1944, as Company B,       88th Signal Battalion (Special).  His record shows that he was authorized the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon, a battle star for Northern Luzon, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with bronze star.  

7.  The applicant arrived in Luzon on 10 January 1945 and left Luzon for Japan on 6 September 1945, arriving in Tokyo Bay on 13 September.  On                    25 October 1945 he was assigned to B Company of the 164th Infantry.  He departed for the United States on 11 November 1945 arriving on 22 November.  He was discharged on 7 December 1945 at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. 

8.  The applicant’s discharge document shows his organization as Company B, 164 Infantry.  That document shows that he was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, that he participated in the Northern Solomons and Luzon campaigns, and that he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the Philippine Liberation Medal with one bronze star.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-2 prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual military awards.  Service (campaign) medals and service ribbons denote honorable performance of military duty within specified limited dates in specified geographical areas.  One bronze service star is authorized for each campaign.  Table B-1 lists those areas and inclusive dates. The inclusive dates for the Guadalcanal campaign are from 7 August 1942 to     21 February 1943.  There is no separate campaigns listed for the invasion of New Georgia, the invasion of Bougainville, or the invasion of Luzon.  There is inclusive dates listed for the Northern Solomons campaign, from                         22 February 1943 to 21 November 1944; and for the Luzon campaign, from      15 December 1944 to 4 July 1945.

10.  Paragraph 5-10 of the aforementioned regulation authorizes award of the Army of Occupation Medal of Japan for service between 3 September 1945 and 27 April 1952.

11.  Paragraph 5-11 authorizes award of the World War II Victory Medal for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946.
  
CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant did serve with Company B of the 88th Signal Battalion (Special) during World War II.  However, his organization prior to his discharge, was Company B of the 164th Infantry.  His organization on his discharge document is therefore correct.  

2.  The applicant’s qualification record properly reflects that he completed the    14 week Midwest Signal Corps Switchboard Installation School.

3.  The applicant arrived in Guadalcanal on 13 July 1943.  The inclusive dates for campaign credit for the Guadalcanal campaign are 7 August 1942 to                  21 February 1943.  He is not authorized credit for the Guadalcanal campaign.  

4.  There are no separate campaigns authorized for the invasion of New Georgia, the invasion of Bougainville, or the invasion of Luzon.  He is not entitled to campaign credit for those actions.  He is, however, entitled to credit for his participation in the Northern Solomons and the Luzon campaigns.  Those campaigns are properly reflected on his discharge document. 

5.  The applicant participated in the occupation of Japan and is entitled to the award of the Army of Occupation Medal of Japan Medal.  He is entitled to award of the World War II Victory Medal. 

6.  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 by showing that the applicant was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal of Japan, and the World War II Victory Medal.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied 

BOARD VOTE:  

___mdm_  ___aao__  ____ewl_  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999018276	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990805	
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.  107.00		
2.  100.00		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.