PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:           .

	BOARD DATE:                20 July 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AR2000040692

	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, in effect, correction of his WD AGO Form 55 (Enlisted Record and Honorable Discharge) to show that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the Bronze Star Medal.  In support of his application he submits a copy of
his WD AGO Form 53-55 and a copy of his award certificate for the Bronze Star Medal. 

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show he was inducted on 29 July 1942 as an infantry squad leader (745).  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 7 July 1944 to 2 March 1945 and was honorably discharged on 19 November 1945.  His discharge document does not show the Bronze Star Medal as an authorized award.

5.  The applicant provided a copy of an award certificate, which shows that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in ground operations against the enemy while serving in the European Theater of Operations during the Rhineland Campaign.  This award of the Bronze Star Medal is based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).

6.  The Board notes that the applicant is eligible for award of the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal which are not shown on his discharge document.

7.  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 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.

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.

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. 

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There are no orders available to the Board which authorize award of the Bronze Star to the applicant.  However, the applicant has provided evidence that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the CIB.  Upon review, the Board has determined that this evidence is sufficient as a basis for correction of his records to show this award.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his records to show the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the CIB.

2.  Based on his service in World War II, the applicant is entitled to award of the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars 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, 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 that the individual concerned was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the CIB, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars 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	AR2000040692	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000720	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19451119	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  60		
2.  112		
3.  		
4.		
5.		
6.