PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:            

	BOARD DATE:                 9 March 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999028207

	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. June Hajjar		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas D. Howard		Member	
	Ms. Carol Jo Suiter		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, that his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) be corrected to show all awards and decorations to which he is entitled for his service in the 506th Parachute Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division and to show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show all awards and decorations to which he is entitled for his service in the 506th Infantry Regiment, nor does it show the CIB or the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon.  In support of his application he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55, an award certificate for the Parachutist Badge and a copy of the cover page of 101st Airborne Division Directory with an additional page showing the applicant’s name. 

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 entered active duty on 16 October 1939 as a general clerk (055).  He served in Newfoundland from 25 January 1941 to 11 October 1942 and in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 7 February 1945 to 6 September 1945 and was honorably discharged on 23 September 1945.

5. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon with one bronze service star and the American Defense Service Medal.  His discharge document does not show the CIB as an authorized award.

6.  There is no evidence in the available records that show he served in the 
506 Parachute Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division.

7.  There is no indication in the available records that show he was awarded an infantry military occupational specialty (MOS), that he served in an infantry duty position or that he was awarded the CIB.  Records show the applicant served as a general clerk (055) while serving in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater.

8.  The applicant provided a copy of a diploma, which shows that he completed the Parachutist Course and was rated as a parachutist on 6 October 1944.

9.  The Board noted that the applicant is entitled to the World War II Victory Medal and the American Campaign Medal, which are not shown on his discharge document.

10.  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)

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, sets forth requirements for award of the basic Parachutist Badge.  Award of the basic Parachutist Badge requires that an individual must have satisfactorily completed the prescribed proficiency tests while assigned or attached to an airborne unit or the Airborne Department of the Infantry School, or have participated in at least one combat parachute jump.

12.  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.

13.  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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board noted the applicant’s contentions that his WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show all awards and decorations to which he is entitled for his service in the 506th Parachute Regiment; however, there is no evidence, and the applicant has provided no evidence to show the he served in the 506 Parachute Regiment.

2. There is no evidence, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge or served in an infantry position in combat while serving in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant served as a general clerk (055) while serving in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater.  Therefore, he is not eligible for award of the CIB.

3.  Evidence of record shows that he completed the Parachutist Course; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show that he was awarded the Parachutist Badge.

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

5.  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 Parachutist Badge, the World War II Victory Medal and the American Campaign Medal.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

JH_______  TDH____ CJS____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_____June Hajjar_______________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999028207	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000309	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19450923	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT/ DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  166		
2.  157		
3.  112		
4.  109		
5.		
6.