PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                  6 January 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:         AR1999023541

	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.  

	Ms. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Edward Williamson		Chairperson	
	Mr. Stanley Kelley		Member	
	Mr. Allen L. Raub		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, issuance of the Purple Heart and European-African-Middle-Eastern (EAME) Theater Ribbon with two bronze service stars.  Service Medals and Awards are not issued by the Army Board for Corrections of Military Records (ABCMR).  (Analyst ‘s Note:  However, the applicant may obtain his medals by submitting a request in writing to:  National Personnel Records Center, ATTN:  Army Medals, 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63132-5100.)

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he was not issued any medals for the aforementioned awards.  He also states that he was injured during World War II.
In support of his application he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation), copy of a Western Union Telegram and a newspaper clipping.

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 entered active duty on 
20 October 1939.  He served as a rifleman (745) in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 17 August 1943 to 1 October 1945 and was honorably discharged on 14 October 1945.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the EAME Ribbon with two bronze service stars, the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).

6.  The Board notes that he is entitled to the American Campaign Medal (ACM),
Bronze Star Medal based on award of the CIB and the World War II Victory Medal, which are not shown on his discharge document.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the American Campaign Medal.  This campaign medal is awarded for qualifying service in the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946.  Qualifying service includes permanent assignment outside the continental United States, duty as a crewmember aboard a vessel sailing ocean waters for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or duty outside the continental United States as a passenger or in a temporary duty status for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by a corps commander or higher, or service within the continental United States for an aggregate period of one year.

8.  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.

9.  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 applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 in item 33 (Decorations and Awards) 
shows that he was awarded the Purple Heart and the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with two bronze service stars.  Therefore, there is no further action required by this Board on these two decorations.

2.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant was eligible for award of the 
American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these awards.

3.  The applicant was awarded the CIB during World War II; therefore, he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

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 in item 33 (Decoration and Awards) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 that he was awarded the American Campaign Medal, the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and the World War II Victory Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

EW_____  SK______  ALR____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Edward Williamson_____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999023541	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000106	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19451014	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1. 60		
2.  112		
3.  109		
4.		
5.		
6.