PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:                 16 March 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999028809

	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. 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 correction of his records to show all awards and decorations to which he is entitled.

3.  The applicant states that he was a Prisoner of War (POW) during World 
War II.  He also states that he was missing in Italy during the Anzio invasion while assigned to Company G, 7th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division.  In support of his application he submits a copy of a newspaper clipping.

4.  The applicant’s military records show he was inducted on 18 February 1943.
He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 15 October 1943 to 1 May 1945 and continued to serve through a series of continuous reenlistments until he was placed on the Army of the United States Retired List effective 1 November 1965.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 with an effective date of 11 November 1945 shows he was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, the American Theater Ribbon, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with two bronze service stars, three Overseas Service Bars and the Good Conduct Medal. His WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the POW Medal as an authorized award.

6.  The applicant’s personnel records do not contain any orders awarding the Prisoner of War (POW) Medal.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant was a POW in Germany during World War II from 26 December 1944 to 28 March 1945.

7.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 with an effective date of 24 June 1951 shows that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and the Korean Service Medal with three bronze service stars.

8.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 with an effective date of 31 October 1965 shows that he was awarded the Expert Marksmanship Badge with Rifle Bar.

9.  A DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 15 December 1994, shows the Army Personnel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, determined the applicant was entitled to the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII, the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the CIB and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Badge.

10.  A DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) was issued on 27 December 1994 amending the applicant’s DD Form 214 to show award of the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal and the Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII.
11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent paragraph, for award of the POW Medal.  The regulation states that the POW Medal was authorized on 8 November 1985 and is awarded to individuals who in past armed conflicts were taken prisoner or held captive.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant was a POW in Germany from 29 February 1944 to 15 April 1945 during World War II; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show that he was awarded the POW Medal.

2.  The applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the CIB
and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Badge.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these awards.

3.  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 (Decorations and Citations) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 that he was awarded the Prisoner of War (POW) Medal, the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Badge.

BOARD VOTE:  

JLP_____  OWT____  CJP____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_     _Jennifer L. Prater______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999028809	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000316	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19651031	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR .635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  75		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.