PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:            

	BOARD DATE:                 16 March 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999028539

	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. Jennifer L. Prater		Chairperson	
	Mr. Orville W. Troesch, Jr.		Member	
	Mr. Christopher J. Prosser		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 item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of his 
WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) be corrected to show that an additional bronze service star for his participation in Task Force Linden.

3.  The applicant states that he served with Task Force Linden and received Battle Stars; however, they are not listed on his WD AGO Form 53-55.  
In support of his application he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55.

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 9 August 1943 as a platoon sergeant (844).  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 8 December 1944 to 8 April 1946 and was honorably discharged on 20 April 1946.

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

6.  The Board notes that the applicant has requested a “campaign medal” for participation in Task Force Linden.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, authorizes campaign medals for service during World War II.  This regulation provides that the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for service in the European Theater and participation in specific campaigns was recognized by award of a bronze service star to be worn on the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.  This regulation does not authorize campaign credit or any specific service awards for Task Force Linden.

7.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows 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 which is not shown on his WD AGO Form 53-55.

8.  A DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 16 September 1997, shows the Army Personnel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, determined the applicant was entitled to the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the CIB and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.

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.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board noted the applicant’s contention that he served with Task Force Linden and received Battle Stars and that they were not listed on his WD AGO Form 53-55; however, Army Regulation 600-8-22 does not provide for any specific service award for Task Force Linden.

2.  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.

3.  The applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the CIB and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to these awards.

4.  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 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 Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

JLP______  OWT___  ALR  ___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Jennifer L. Prater__________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999028539	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000316	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19460420	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  46		
2.   60		
3.  113		
4.		
5.		
6.