PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                 3 February 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999025687

	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:

	Ms. Margaret K. Patterson		Chairperson	
	Ms. Barbara J. Ellis		Member	
	Mr. Ernest W. Lutz, Jr.		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 item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) be corrected to show that he received credit for the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign is not listed in item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of his WD AGO Form 53-55.  He also states that he was in combat status until wounded on 13 April 1945.  In support of his application he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 and a copy of Army Regulation 600-45 (Decorations).

4.  The applicant’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 he was inducted 29 December 1943 as an automatic rifleman (746).  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 20 October 1944 to 30 March 1946 and was honorably discharged on 13 April 1946.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars, the Good Conduct Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).  His discharge document does not show any additional bronze service stars.

6.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he that he served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and participated in the Central Europe and Rhineland Campaigns.  The Board notes that he is entitled to the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign, which occurred from 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945 and the World War II Victory Medal and which are not shown on his WD AGO Form 53-55.

7.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal by Headquarters, 100th Infantry Division General Orders Number 223, dated 10 August 1945.  

8.  The Board noted the applicant’s discharge document shows he was awarded the CIB.  There is no evidence the applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the CIB.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, provides, in pertinent part, that the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is awarded for service within the European African-Middle Eastern Theater between 7 December 1941 and 8 November 1945.  This medal is awarded to any service member who was permanently assigned in the theater, who was in a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days, or who was 
in active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration, or who was furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps or higher unit or independent force showing that he actually participated in combat.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, authorizes award of the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal for qualifying service in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations for the period 7 December 1941 to 8 November 1945.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also authorizes a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation or listed in item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of the WD AGO Form 53-55.  The regulation states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate campaign or service medal including the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.  

11.  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.

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 II

13.  The bronze oak leaf cluster is awarded to denote the second and succeeding awards of certain decorations, among which is the Bronze Star Medal.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant served in the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign.  Therefore, he is
entitled to one additional bronze service star for a total of three bronze service stars to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and is entitled to correction of item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign.

2.  Based on his service during WWII, the applicant is entitled to award of the World War II Victory Medal; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

3.  Evidence of record shows he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.  Evidence of record also shows that he is entitled to the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge; however, this award was not shown on his discharge document.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show the Bronze Star Medal First Oak Leaf Cluster.

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 32 (Battles and Campaigns) that he participated in the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign and in item 33 (Decorations and Awards) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 that he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars, the World War II Victory Medal and the Bronze Star Medal First Oak Leaf Cluster.

BOARD VOTE:  

MKP_____  BJE____  EWL____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Margaret K. Patterson_
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999025687	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000203	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19460413	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  46		
2.  112		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.