PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:  7 June 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER: AR2000036965

	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.  

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mr. Lee Cates		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Margaret Patterson		Chairperson	
	Mr. James P. Stueve		Member	
	Mr. Edwin S. Castle		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 his records be corrected to show he was separated in the rank of staff sergeant (SSgt) with a date of rank of 4 September 1945.

3.  The applicant states that he was promoted to the rank of SSgt on                   4 September 1945, just prior to his separation.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Army on            18 October 1940.  He completed his required training and was awarded MOS 605 (Heavy Machine Gunner).  He was promoted to the rank of sergeant (Sgt).

5.  During the period 3 March 1942 to 1 June 1945, he served in the European Theater of Operations.

6.  On 19 September 1945, he was honorably separated in the rank of Sgt under Army Regulation 615-365, based on demobilization and the convenience of the Government.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation – Honorable Discharge), dated 19 September 1945 indicates he had 4 years and 11 months of creditable service and 2 days of lost time.  He was entitled to award of the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Ribbon, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with 4 bronze service stars (Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes and Rhineland).

7.  A letter, Army Service Forces, Sixth Service Command, Fort Sheridan, Illinois, dated 1 November 1945 advised the applicant of a letter, dated 4 September 1945 promoting him to the rank of SSgt from Sgt.  He was advised to send his original Discharge Certificate to that office and a pay adjustment would be made. Also, if he desired to have his Discharge Certificate changed to show his correct rank, he should send his certificate to The Adjutant General, Washington 25, D.C.

8.  A Final Payment Roll of the Separation Center at Fort Sheridan, dated            8 November 1945 adjusted the applicant’s final payment to account for the difference in rank.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Although the actual letter promoting the applicant to SSgt is not in the available records, there is overwhelming evidence of record that he was promoted and his records should be corrected accordingly. 

2.  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:

a.  by issuing a correction to his WD AGO Form 53-55, dated 9 September 1945 to show his rank as SSgt with an effective date of 4 September 1945; and

	b.  by issuing him an Honorable Discharge Certificate showing his corrected rank.

BOARD VOTE:  

___mp___  __js____  __ec____ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________ DENY APPLICATION

		___Margaret Patterson____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000036965	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000607	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.131	WW2 prom to SSgt.	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.