PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                 18 August 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:         AR1999019703

	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. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Edward Williamson		Member	
	Ms. Sherri V. Ward		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 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) be corrected to show that he was awarded the 
Presidential Unit Citation Award (PUC).

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his WD AGO 53-55 does not show the award of the Presidential Unit Citation.

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 21 November 1943 as a field lineman.  He served in the European Theater of Operations from 8 April 1944 to 12 July 1945 and was honorably discharged on 13 October 1945.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO 53-55 shows he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal and the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with five bronze service stars.  His discharged document does not show the Presidential Unit Citation as an authorized award.

6.  The Board notes that the applicant is entitled to the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Belgian Fourragere and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Presidential Unit Citation (known as the Distinguished Unit Citation until 3 November 1966) is awarded for extraordinary heroism in action.  A unit must display such gallantry, determination and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission as would warrant award of the Distinguished Service Cross to an individual.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) indicates that the 2nd Signal Company, 2nd Infantry Division was cited for award of the Distinguished Unit Citation by War Department General Order 26-45.

8.  The applicant was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation by Headquarters, 2nd Infantry Division General Orders 41, dated 14 April 1945.

9.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows the applicant’s unit
(2nd Signal Company, 2nd Infantry Division) was awarded the Belgian Fourragere for the period 13 December 1944 to 19 December 1944 and from 19 December 1944 to 30 December 1944 by Department of the Army General Orders 43-50.

10.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows the applicant’s unit (2nd Signal Company, 2nd Infantry Division) was awarded occupation credit for qualifying service in Germany from 2 May 1945 to 5 July 1945.

11.  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.  Evidence of record shows the applicant was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Belgian Fourragere and the Army Occupational Medal with Germany Clasp.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these awards.

2.  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 (Decorations and Citations) of his WD AGO 53-55 that he was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Belgian Fourragere and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.

BOARD VOTE:  

RVO____  EW_____  SVW____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999019703	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990818	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19451015	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.