PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            17 August 2000    
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000039504

	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. Deborah L. Brantley		Senior Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Sherri V. Ward		Chairperson	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Member	
	Ms. Linda D. Simmons		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 award of the Purple Heart.  He states he sustained "contusions and lacerations" while in combat in France in 1944.  He notes that it was "an administrative oversight" that he never received the award and indicates that he was discharged with a certificate of disability as evidence of his entitlement to the Purple Heart. 

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty on 
29 September 1942 and served in the European Theater of Operations from January 1944 until July 1945 where he was awarded a Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star Medal and the Army Good Conduct Medal.  He was released from active duty on 19 October 1945 with a certificate of disability for discharge.  Item 40 (wounds) on his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Service Honorable Discharge), which he authenticated with his signature and thumb print, reflects "NONE."   Medical documents contained in the applicant's file indicate he was discharged as a result of recurrent discharge from both ear and diminished hearing (chronic otitis media) for which he was receiving treatment as early as December 1942.

4.  While in the European Theater of Operations the applicant was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry.  A review of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) notes the applicant’s unit 12th Infantry was credited with participating in five designated campaigns during the applicant’s period of assignment.  The unit was also awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (now known as the Presidential Unit Citation (Army), two awards of the Belgian Fourragere, and an Army of Occupation Medal with “Germany” clasp during his tenure with the organization.

5.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 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.  Awards of the Bronze Star Medal under these circumstances is commonly referred to as a conversion award.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There is no evidence, and the applicant has not provided any, that he was wounded as a result of hostile action during World War II.  As such there is no basis to award him the Purple Heart.
2.  The Board does note, however, that the applicant is entitled to a Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award based on his Combat Infantryman Badge.

3.  The Board also notes the applicant is entitled to five bronze service stars (represented by a single silver service star) denoting participation in five designated campaigns during the applicant’s period of assignment in Europe.  He is also entitled to a Distinguished Unit Citation (now known as the Presidential Unit Citation (Army), two awards of the Belgian Fourragere, and an Army of Occupation Medal with “Germany” clasp based on his service with the 12th Infantry.

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

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:

	a.  by awarding the individual concerned a Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award based on his Combat Infantryman Badge; and

	b.  by showing that he is entitled to five bronze service stars (represented by a single silver service star) denoting participation in five designated campaigns, a Distinguished Unit Citation (now known as the Presidential Unit Citation (Army), two awards of the Belgian Fourragere, and an Army of Occupation Medal with “Germany” clasp.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

___svw__  ___mhm__  ___lds__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000039504	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000817	
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.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.