PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                 8 July 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:         AR1999020004

	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:

	Ms. June Hajjar		Chairperson	
	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Member	
	Mr. Roger W. Able		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, correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to show that he was separated in a pay grade higher than E-4/CPL.

3.  The applicant states that he was inducted as a corporal (CPL) and was informed that he would be advanced before his discharge; however, for reasons unknown he was never advanced.  He also states that he now has nightmares and that he would like a higher rank on his headstone that he can be proud of.  
In support of his application he submits a copy of a letter from his daughter, a letter from VA (congratulations letter for participation in the Prisoner of War (POW) Medal presentation), VA Form P-80a (Award of Disability Compensation or Pension), local authorization for wear of awards and 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 6 February 1942.  He served as a rifleman in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operation from 11 August 1944 to 4 June 1945 and was honorably discharged on 22 October 1945.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the Purple Heart, the European-African-Middle Easter Theater Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars and the Good Conduct Medal.

6.  A DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 10 January 1991, shows the Army Reserve Center in St. Louis, Missouri, determined the applicant was entitled to the Prisoner of War (POW) Medal.  However, the WD AGO Form 53-55 does not reflect this award.

7.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55, which is authenticated in his own hands, shows in item 3 (Grade) the entry “Cpl” (Corporal).

8.  Records show the applicant served as a rifleman (745) in the European- African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations.

9.  The applicant submits a copy of a local authorization for awards awarding him the Combat Infantryman Badge.

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

11.  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)

12.  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

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There is no evidence in the available records to show that he was advanced higher than pay grade E-4 prior to his discharge.  Therefore, there is no basis to correct his WD AGO Form 53-55.

2.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant served as a rifleman (745) while serving in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show that he was awarded the CIB.
3.  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.

4.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  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 and 
the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

JH_____  RVO____  RWA_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		June Hajjar___________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999020004	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990708	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19451022	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT/DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  157		
2.  60		
3.  100		
4.		
5.		
6.