PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                9 June 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999019976

	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	
	M . Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Elizabeth Buchanon		Chairperson	
	Mr. Raymond J. Wagner		Member	
	Mr. James P. Steuve		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 award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that the CIB is not listed on his WD AGO  
53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation). 

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 enlisted on 9 November 1939. He served in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations from 18 March 1942 to 17 August 1945 as a rifleman and was honorably discharged on 4 October 1945.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO 53-55 shows he was awarded the American Defense Service Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal with bronze arrowhead, the Good Conduct Medal and the Expert Qualification Badge with 
Rifle Bar.

6.  A DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 4 April 1995, shows the Army Reserve Center in St. Louis, Missouri, determined the applicant was entitled to the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal which are not shown on his discharge.

7.  There is no indication in the applicant’s personnel records which shows he was awarded the CIB.  Records show the applicant served as a rifleman (745) 
in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations.

8.  The Board notes that the applicant is entitled to the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  

9.  War Department Circular 269-1943 established the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Expert Infantryman Badge to recognize and provide an incentive to infantrymen.  The Expert Infantryman Badge was to be awarded for attainment of certain proficiency standards or by satisfactory performance of duty in action against the enemy.  The Combat Infantryman Badge was awarded for exemplary conduct in action against the enemy.  War Department Circular 186-1944 further provided that the Combat Infantryman Badge was to be awarded only to infantrymen serving with infantry units of brigade, regimental or smaller size.  Additionally, World War II holders of the Combat Infantryman Badge received a monthly pay supplement known as combat infantry pay and holders of the Expert Infantryman Badge were entitled to expert infantry pay.  Therefore, soldiers had economic as well as intangible reasons to ensure that their records were correct. Thus, pay records are frequently the best available source to verify entitlement to this award.  The Awards Branch, Total Army Personnel Command, has advised in similar cases that, during World War II, the Combat Infantryman Badge was normally awarded only to enlisted individuals who served in the following positions:
    a.  Light machine gunner (604)
    b.  Heavy machine gunner (605)
    c.  Platoon sergeant (651)
    d.  Squad leader (653)
    e.  Rifleman (745)
    f.  Automatic rifleman (746)
    g.  Heavy weapons NCO (812)
    h.  Gun crewman (864)

10.  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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant served as a rifleman (745) while serving in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show that he was awarded the CIB.

2.  Evidence of record shows the applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show the award of the Bronze Star Medal.

3.  The applicant was awarded the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these awards.

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 by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the CIB, the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

EB_____  RJW_____  JPS_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Elizabeth Buchanon____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999019976	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990609	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19451004	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  107		
2.  157		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.