PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                 2 March 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999028469

	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. Edwin S. Castle		Chairperson	
	Mr. Stanley Kelley		Member	
	Ms. Kathleen A. Newman		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, correction of his records to show that he was wounded when he was captured.  

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his second wound is not listed on his records.  He also states that the VA Regional Office in New Jersey informed him that he only received one award of the Purple Heart.

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 entered active duty on 11 July 1942 as a squad leader.  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations and was honorably discharged on 20 November 1945.

5.  The applicant’s records contain a DD Form 303A (Certificate in Lieu of Lost or Destroyed Discharge).  There is no WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) available to the Board.

6.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 100 (Separation Qualification Record) shows he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), the Purple Heart (First Oak Leaf Cluster), the Good Conduct Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars and the World War II Victory Medal.

7.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 100 shows that he received a Purple Heart with an Oak Leaf Cluster, which represents a total of two awards.

8.  The Board noted the applicant’s WD AGO Form 100 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.  A DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 18 July 1988, shows the Army Personnel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, determined the applicant was entitled to the Prisoner of War (POW) Medal.

10.  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

11.  The bronze oak leaf cluster is awarded to denote the second and succeeding awards of certain decorations, among which is the Purple Heart.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows he received a Purple Heart with an Oak Leaf Cluster.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show the Purple Heart (First Oak Leaf Cluster).

2.  The applicant was awarded the POW Medal.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

3.   Evidence of record shows that he is entitled to the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

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 that the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart (First Oak Leaf Cluster), the POW Medal and the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

BOARD VOTE:  

ESC____  SK______  KAN____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Edwin S. Castle_______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999028469	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000302	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19451120	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  60		
2.  75		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.