PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                13 May 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999021921

	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. Samuel Calderon		Member	
	Mr. Kenneth Wright		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, as the next of kin of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests, in effect, that his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) be corrected to show all awards and decorations that were authorized and appropriate for his service during World War II.

3.  The applicant states that the appropriate awards are not listed on his 
WD AGO 53-55.  He also states that he submitted an application on 11 May 1995 and was informed that the awards were not issued due to his service records being destroyed in a fire at the National Personnel Records Center.  In support of his application he submits a copy of his WD AGO 53-55.

4.  The FSM’s military records were destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show that the FSM was inducted on 25 July 1942.  He served in the European Theater of Operations and was honorably discharged on 8 October 1945.

5.  The FSM’s WD AGO 53-55 shows he was awarded the European African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with five bronze service stars, the Good Conduct Medal and the Belgian Fourragere with colors.

6.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows the applicant’s unit (195th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion) received occupation credit for qualifying service in Germany from 2 May 1945 to 18 September 1945.

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

8.  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 1946, both dates inclusive.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The FSM was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.  Therefore, his records should be corrected to show this award.

2.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant was eligible for award of the World War II Victory Medal; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records 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 of the FSM’s WD AGO 53-55 that he was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp and the World War II Victory Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

RVO_____  SC_____  KW_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.
		CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999021921	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990513	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19451008	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.107		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.