PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           3 November 1999                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999021107

	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	
	Mrs. Nancy Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Mr. Edwin S. Castle		Member	
	Mr. Stanley Kelley		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 that the records of his deceased father, a former service member (FSM), be corrected to show his award of the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry Badge, and any other awards due him.  He also requests that all of his father’s awards be reissued to him.

3.  The applicant states that not all his father’s authorized awards are listed on his discharge certificate.

4.  The FSM’s military records show that he enlisted in the Army on 11 August 1939 and apparently served as a radio operator.  He was discharged on              2 October 1942 to immediately accept an appointment as a second lieutenant as a cavalry (armor) officer on 3 October 1942.  His enlisted record shows he received no decorations or service medals.  

5.  The FSM arrived in the European Theater of Operations on 10 September 1944 and was assigned to the 26th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop.  He was wounded in action on 8 November 1944, hospitalized, admitted to the 318th Station Hospital on 11 December 1944 and released to the 10th Reinforcement Depot on 21 February 1945 for limited duty.  He departed the European Theater on 21 June 1945 and was released from active duty on 21 September 1945.  His Report of Separation shows he served in the Germany and Northern France campaigns and was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, the Purple Heart and the Presidential Unit Citation.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 prescribes criteria concerning individual military awards.  It provides that the American Defense Medal is awarded for service between 8 September 1939 and 7 December 1941 under orders to active duty for a period of 12 months or longer; the Army Good Conduct Medal is awarded to enlisted personnel for each 3 years completed on or after 27 August 1940 or, for the first award only, 1 year served entirely during the period 7 December 1941 to 2 March 1946; the World War II Victory Medal for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946; the National Defense Service Medal for honorable active service for any period between 27 June 1950 and 27 July 1954 or two later periods; the Army Service Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon were established on 10 April 1981 for service as of 1 August 1981 or later.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also states that the CIB was established during World War II to provide special recognition of the unique role of the Army infantryman, the only soldier whose daily mission is to close with and destroy the enemy and to seize and hold terrain.  The badge was intended as an inducement for individuals to join the infantry while serving as a morale booster for infantrymen.  In developing the CIB, the War Department did not dismiss or ignore the contributions of other branches such as Artillery or Armor.  Their vital contributions to the overall war effort were noted, but it was decided that other 

awards and decorations were sufficient to recognize their contributions.  From the beginning, Army leadership have taken care to retain the badge for the unique purpose for which it was established.  There are basically three requirements for award of the CIB.  The soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and must actively participate in such ground combat.  

8.  DA Pamphlet 672-1 shows that the 26th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop was cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for service during the period    20 December 1944 – 26 January 1945.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The FSM’s Report of Separation already shows award of the Purple Heart along with the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal (the “Europe Campaign Medal”) and the Presidential Unit Citation.

2.  The FSM was eligible for award of the American Defense Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.  He was also authorized to wear two bronze service stars with the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal.

3.  The FSM did not meet the time in service criteria for award of the Army Good Conduct Medal.  Since he was a cavalry (armor) officer, he was not eligible for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  He did not serve during a period of service for which the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon or the Overseas Service Ribbon were authorized.

4.  The FSM was not assigned to the 26th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop at the time it was cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army.

5.  In view of the foregoing, it would be in the interest of justice to correct the applicant’s records as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by adding the American Defense Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and one bronze service star (to the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal) to the FSM’s Report of Separation.

2.  That the applicant be issued all awards authorized the FSM.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__fne___  __esc___  __sk____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			Fred N. Eichorn
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999021107	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	19991103	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	110.04	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.