PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                 5 August 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999019174

	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. 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.  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 Prisoner of War (POW) Medal.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the award of the POW Medal.  He also states that he was a POW during World War II from 26 December 1944 to 27 March 1945.  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 he was inducted on 26 June 1941 as a light truck driver.  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 15 September 1943 to 30 April 1945 and was honorably discharged on 8 August 1945.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Purple Heart, the American Defense Service Ribbon, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with four bronze battle stars,
three Overseas Service Bars and one Service Stripe.

6.  His discharge document does not show the POW Medal as an authorized award.

7.  The applicant’s personnel records do not contain any orders awarding the Prisoner of War (POW) Medal.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant was a POW in Germany during World War II from 26 December 1944 to 28 March 1945.

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

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent paragraph, for award of the POW Medal.  The regulation states that the POW Medal was authorized on 8 November 1985 and is awarded to individuals who in past armed conflicts were taken prisoner or held captive.

10.  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 1941, both dates inclusive.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant was a POW in Germany from 26 December 1944 to 28 March 1945 during World War II; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show that he was awarded the POW Medal.

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 (Decorations and Citations) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 that he was awarded the Prisoner of War (POW) Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

MDM____  AAO____  EWL____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Mark D. Manning_______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999019174	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990805	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19450808	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  75		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.