PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:       4 February 1999     
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-12574
				    AR1999019074

	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. Joann H. Langston		Chairperson	
	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		Member	
	Mr. Van B. Cunningham		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 military records be corrected to reflect all of the decorations issued to the 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Division during his period of assignment with the organization and that orders be issued correcting the spelling of his name on his Silver Star orders.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty on 14 March 1941 and arrived in the overseas theater of operations on 9 November 1942.  While overseas he performed duties as an infantryman with the 2nd battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Armored Division and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.

4.  On 24 July 1944 the applicant was awarded the Silver Star as a result of his heroic actions on 18 May 1944.  His last name was misspelled in the orders announcing the award (“Squires” should have been “Squyres”).

5.  A review of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) notes the applicant’s unit (2nd Battalion 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Division) was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (which was re-designated the Presidential Unit Citation in 1966) for the period 17 through 28 November 1944, a single Belgian Fourragere for 
2 September 1944 and the period 21 through 28 December 1944, and a French Croix de Guerre for the period 14 through 28 November 1944.  The applicant’s unit was also credited with an assault landing between 9 and 11 July 1943 and Occupation Credit in Germany beginning 9 May 1945.

6.  The applicant returned to the United States on 21 June 1945.  On 6 July 1945 he was released from active duty as a result of demobilization.  His DD Form 214 does not reflect any of the unit decorations awarded to the 41st Infantry Regiment while he was a member of the organization.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 states that a bronze arrowhead will be awarded denoting participation in a combat parachute jump, helicopter assault landing, combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing, while assigned or attached as a member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission.  Individual assault credit is tied directly to the combat assault credit decision for the unit to which the soldier is attached or assigned at the time of the assault.  When awarded the arrowhead is worn on the service and suspension ribbons of the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also states that the Army of Occupation Medal is awarded for 30 days of consecutive service at a normal post of duty while assigned to any one of several designated areas, including Germany, between 

9 May 1945 and 5 May 1955.  Units granted occupation credit for Germany are awarded the Army of Occupation Medal with “Germany” clasp.

9.  Additionally, Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides for award of the Bronze Star Medal to individuals who were awarded a Combat Infantryman Badge during World War II.  An award of the Bronze Star Medal based on the Combat Infantryman Badge is commonly referred to as a conversion award.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms the applicant is entitled to an award of the Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award based on the Combat Infantryman Badge he was awarded during World War II.

2.  The evidence also confirms that based on his service with the 41st Infantry Regiment between November 1942 and June 1945, the applicant is entitled to the Army of Occupation Medal with “Germany” clasp, a bronze arrowhead on his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal denoting participation in an assault landing, a Presidential Unit Citation, the French Croix de Guerre and a Belgian Fourragere.

3.  The applicant’s last name was misspelled on orders awarding him the Silver Star and it would be appropriate to issue an amendment to those orders showing his last name as “Squyres” vice “Squires.”

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:

a.  by awarding the individual concerned a Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award based on his Combat Infantryman Badge;

b.  by showing that he is entitled to the Army of Occupation Medal with “Germany” clasp, a bronze arrowhead on his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal denoting participation in an assault landing, a Presidential Unit Citation, the French Croix de Guerre and a Belgian Fourragere; and

c.  by issuing orders amending his award of the Silver Star to show the correct spelling of his last name as “Squyres.”

BOARD VOTE:  

__jhl___  ___aao___  __vbc___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AC98-12574/AR1999019074	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990204	
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.