PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:  16 November 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2000039158

	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. Paul A. Petty		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Walter T. Morrison		Chairperson	
	Ms. Martha E. Schuler		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, in effect, that his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation from World War II show his combat unit of assignment, his infantry Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), his arm of service as Infantry, his highest rank held, that he be awarded any military awards for which he is authorized but has not received; and that he receive a separation certificate for the same period showing his highest rank held and his combat unit of assignment.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that in 1945 during WWII, he was in combat with the 14th Armored Division as a 2221 African-American Volunteer.  He provides a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge.

4.  The applicant’s military records are not available and are presumed lost in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center.  The applicant’s separation document, provided by the applicant, shows that he was inducted into the Army of the United States (AUS) on 3 December 1941.  He served in the American Theater (the United States) until 3 July 1944 when he departed for the European Theater of Operations and arrived there on 14 July 1944.  His arm of service was Quartermaster and his MOS was 060, Cook.  He advanced to the rank of Technician 5th Grade (Tech 5), in what was pay grade 5 at that time (equivalent to pay grade E-4 today).  Special Orders #70, 1945, Headquarters, 14th Armored Division, show that the applicant was awarded the MOS of 745, Rifleman, and was a member of the 14th Armored Division.  He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.  He was also awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars for participation in the Normandy (6 June – 25 July 1944), Rhineland (15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945), and Central Europe (22 March – 11 May 1945) campaigns.  He departed the European Theater of Operations on 13 August 1945 and returned to the United States on 23 August 1945.  He was honorably discharged on 22 October 1945 at the convenience of the government due to demobilization.  He was discharged as a Private (Pvt) from the 959th Quartermaster Services Company, 557th Quartermaster Service Battalion, at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.  He was also awarded a Good Conduct Medal.

5.  The applicant is one of 2221 African-American Volunteers who volunteered for infantry duty in early 1945 in response to a 26 December 1944 call from Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, for such volunteers to replace infantry losses experienced during the Battle of the Bulge in WWII.  A condition of volunteering for African-American soldiers was administrative reduction to Private (Pvt) or Private First Class (Pfc).  After volunteering, the applicant received combat infantry training in France for six weeks and was then assigned to the 14th Armored Division about March 1945 as a Pvt in the MOS 745, Rifleman, according to unit orders.  He fought with the 14th Armored Division unit in combat. The applicant was later transferred to 959th Quartermaster Services Company.  He was not restored to his pre-volunteer rank of Tech 5.

6.  According to Army Regulation 600-8-2, Military Awards, paragraph 3-13, a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945, was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), the Combat Medical Badge (CMB), or other certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat against an armed enemy, is eligible for award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM).

7.  The American Theater Campaign Medal is authorized by Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, for any soldier who served in the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946 within the continental limits of the United States for an aggregate period of 1 year.
 
8.  The Army of Occupation of Medal with Germany clasp is authorized by Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, for soldiers who served 30 consecutive days in Germany (exclusive of Berlin) between 2 May 1945 and 5 May 1955.  Service between 2 May and 8 November 1945 will be counted only if the European-African-Middle Easter Campaign Medal was awarded for service before 2 May 1945.  The 14th Armored Division was awarded occupation credit for the period 2 May through 4 September 1945.

9.  The World War II Victory Medal is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946 according to Army Regulation 600-8-2, Military Awards, paragraph 5-11.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's Enlisted Record and Report of Separation from World War II should show his combat unit of assignment as 14th Armored Division; his MOS as 745, Rifleman; his arm of service as Infantry, and his grade the same as his highest rank held, Tech 5.

2.  He is authorized the following additional awards which should be noted on his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation and the medals provided to him: the Bronze Star Medal, the American Theater Campaign Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp, and the World War II Victory Medal.

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 for the individual concerned by:

	a.  correcting the Honorable Enlisted Record and Report of Separation from World War II to show his combat unit of assignment as the 14th Armored Division; his MOS as 745, Rifleman; his arm of service as Infantry; and his grade the same as his highest rank held, Tech 5; and

	b.  showing on his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation the following additional awards and providing him with the medals: the Bronze Star Medal, the American Theater Campaign Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp, and the World War II Victory Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

__wm___  __ms___  __ja_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Walter T. Morrison_____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000029158	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20001116	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.107.0014	Bronze Star Medal	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.