PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                13 July 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR2000037806

	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	
	Ms. Beverly A. Young		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Jennifer L. Prater		Chairperson	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Member	
	Mr. James E. Anderholm		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 item 33 (Decorations and Citations) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation—Honorable Discharge) to show award of the Purple Heart for wounds he sustained during World War II.

3.  The applicant states that he was wounded in action on 10 January 1944 during World War II, but he did not receive his Purple Heart medal.  Although he was wounded in action in Europe on 10 January 1944, he contends that the Purple Heart is not shown in item 33 of 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 lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Information herein was obtained from alternate sources which show that he was inducted on 8 December 1940.  He served as a rifleman in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations from 8 December 1940 to 5 June 1942.  He also served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 2 September 1943 to 30 May 1945.  He served again in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations and was honorably discharged on 2 November 1945. 

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the Purple Heart as an authorized award in item 33.  

6.  Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the entry “10 January 1944 European Theater”.

7.  The Board notes that the applicant is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the World War II Victory Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal with one bronze service star and the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with three bronze service stars which are not shown on his WD AGO Form 53-55.

8.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge during World War II.  However, there is no indication in the available records that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

9.  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.

10.  Item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he received credit for participation in the Central Pacific Campaign during his service in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations.  In addition, he received credit for participation in the Naples-Foggia Campaign, the Rome-Arno Campaign, and the Po Valley Campaign during his service in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations.

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as a result of hostile action.  Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify that the wound was the result of hostile action, the wound must have required treatment, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.

12.  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 such 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.

13.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, authorizes award of a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation or in item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of the WD AGO Form 53-55.  The regulation also states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate campaign or service medal including the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was wounded in action on 10 January 1944 in the European Theater.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of item 33 (Decorations and Citations) on his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show award of the Purple Heart.

2.  The applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge during World War II.  Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal and correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show this award.

3.  The applicant served during the period of qualifying service for award of the World War II Victory Medal; therefore, he is entitled to the World War II Victory Medal and correction of his records to show this award.

4.  The applicant received credit for participation in one campaign while assigned in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations; therefore, he is entitled to one bronze service star to be affixed to his Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal.

5.  The applicant received credit for participation in three campaigns while assigned in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations; therefore, he is entitled to three bronze service stars to be affixed to his European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal.

6.  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 the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge), the World War II Victory Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal with one bronze service star and the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with three bronze service stars.

BOARD VOTE:  

JLP_____  MHM____  JEA____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Jennifer L. Prater____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000037806	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000713	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0015	
2.	107.0000	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.