PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:           31 August 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000038612

	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. Robert J. McGowan		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Samuel A. Crumpler		Chairperson	
	Ms. Barbara Ellis		Member	
	Mr. Joe R. Schroeder		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 WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, be corrected to show that he was wounded on 3 January 1945; that he was assigned to Company D, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division; that he was 5 feet 8 inches tall, not 6 feet 8 inches; and that he was awarded the Combat Medical Badge.

3.  The applicant makes no statement, but provides a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55, his citation for the Purple Heart, and his membership card in the 17th Airborne Division Association.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted on 18 December 1941.  Following Basic Combat Training, he received airborne training and training as a medical specialist.  On 20 August 1944, he departed the United States with the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment bound for the ETO (European Theater of Operations) and arrived at Camp Chisledon, England on 28 August 1944.  After Thanksgiving 1944, the entire 17th Airborne Division was moved to France and attached to the Third Army.  On 3 January 1945, the applicant, while serving as a combat medic, was wounded in his leg by shrapnel from enemy artillery.  He was evacuated to the 109th Evacuation Hospital and hospitalized for 37 days while receiving treatment and recovering from his wounds.

5.  The applicant returned to his unit and continued to serve with the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division.  He served in three campaigns -- Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe, and Rhineland.  On 7 November 1945, he departed the ETO and returned to the United States on 18 November 1945.  He was honorably discharged as a Technician 5th Grade at Fort Dix, New Jersey, on 24 November 1945.  He had 3 years, 11 months, and 7 days of creditable service, including 1 year, 2 months, and 29 days in the ETO.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 credits him with three campaigns and the following awards, decorations, and badges:  Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Parachutist Badge, and Marksman Badge (M1 Rifle and .45 Caliber Pistol).

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Medical Badge is awarded to medical department personnel (colonel and below) who are assigned or attached to a medical unit of company or smaller size that is organic to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental or smaller size which is engaged in active ground combat.  Battle participation credit is not sufficient; the infantry unit must have been in contact with the enemy.  The regulation 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.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides, in pertinent part, for award of the American Campaign Medal.  This campaign medal is awarded for qualifying service in the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946.  Qualifying service includes permanent assignment outside the continental United States, duty as a crewmember aboard a vessel sailing ocean waters for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or duty outside the continental United States as a passenger or in a temporary duty status for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by a corps commander or higher, or service within the continental United States for an aggregate period of 1 year.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides, in pertinent part, for award of a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation and states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate service medal.

9.  Finally, Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Presidential Unit Citation (known as the Distinguished Unit Citation until 3 November 1966) is awarded for extraordinary heroism in action.  A unit must display such gallantry, determination and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission as would warrant award of the Distinguished Service Cross to an individual.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) indicates that all battalions of the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment were cited for award of the Distinguished Unit Citation.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  It is a matter of record that the applicant served in combat with the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division during World War II.  However, there is no record of the specific battalion and company to which the applicant was assigned.

2.  The Board accepts the applicant's statement that he was 5 feet 8 inches tall, not 6 feet 8 inches tall.

3.  The applicant was wounded on 3 January 1945, not 4 January 1945.  He also was a combat medic and received combat medical pay.  He is entitled to award of the Combat Medical Badge and also the Bronze Star Medal.

4.  The applicant is also entitled to the American Campaign Medal and three bronze service stars on his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

5.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was a member of the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division; that he was 5 feet 8 inches tall; that, in addition to those awards, decorations, and badges already listed on his WD AGO Form 53-55, he received the Bronze Star Medal, the Combat Medical Badge, the American Campaign Medal, and 3 bronze service stars on his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__sac___  __be____  __jrs____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		  __Samuel S. Crumpler__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000038612	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000831	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	DASA	
ISSUES         1.	100.0000	
2.	107.0113	
3.	110.0000	
4.		
5.		
6.