PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:            

	BOARD DATE:                 20 July 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR2000038985

	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. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Samuel A. Crumpler		Chairperson	
	Ms. Ann M. Campbell		Member	
	Mr. Kenneth L. Wright		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 item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) be corrected to show that he received credit for the Anzio and the Northern France Campaigns.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that the Anzio and the Northern France Campaigns are not listed in item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) 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 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 29 May 1942 as a telephone operator (309).  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 22 June 1943 to 7 September 1945 and was honorably discharged on 24 September 1945.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one bronze and one silver service star and one bronze arrowhead and the Distinguished Unit Badge.  His discharge document does not show any additional bronze service stars.

6.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he that he served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and participated in the
Silicy, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns.  The Board notes that the applicant’s unit (Company B, 19th Armor Infantry Battalion) did not participate in the Anzio Campaign, which occurred from 22 January 1944 to 24 May 1944 or the Northern France Campaign, which occurred from 25 July 1944 to 14 September 1944.

7.  The Board notes that the applicant is eligible for award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp and the World War II Victory Medal which are not shown on his discharge document.

8.  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.  

10.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign
Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows among other information, occupation credit during World War II.  This document show the unit to which the applicant was assigned, Company B, 19th Armor Infantry Battalion, received occupation credit for Germany for the period 20 May 1945 to 4 September 1945.

11.  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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record failed to show that the applicant’s unit received campaign credit for the Anzio and Northern France Campaigns.  Therefore, he is not entitled to two additional bronze service stars to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and is not entitled to correction of item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show the Anzio or the Northern France Campaign.

2.  Based on his service during WWII, the applicant is entitled to award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp and the World War II Victory Medal; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these awards.

3.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp and the World War II Victory Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

SAC____  _AMC___  KLW____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__SAMUEL A. CRUMPLER_____________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000038985	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000720	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19450924	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  112		
2.  46		
3.  113		
4.		
5.		
6.