PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:           21 November 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000041167

	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. Thomas A. Pagan		Chairperson	
	Mr. Roger W. Able		Member	
	Mr. Thomas E. O’Shaughnessy Jr.		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 discharge papers be corrected to show that he was awarded two Purple Heart (PH) medals.

3.  The applicant states that he was twice wounded.  He provides a copy of a certificate awarding him the PH for wounds received on Luzon, Philippine Islands (PI) on 5 February 1945, which he contends was his second wounding and the one not recorded in his records; he received this PH in 1987.  He also provides a copy of a certificate awarding him the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) with "V" device (for valor), and a copy of his WD AGO 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge.

4.  The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Information herein was obtained from alternate sources and shows that he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 17 February 1943 and served honorably until separated on 14 November 1945 as a Staff Sergeant, Infantry.

5.  The applicant's WD AGO 53-55 reflects that he was a member of Company F, 20th Infantry Regiment, 6th Infantry Division; that he served in the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO); that he participated in two campaigns (Luzon and New Guinea); that information on wounds received in action was "Not Available;" and that he was awarded the PH, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, and Combat Infantryman Badge.

6.  The Army Reserve Personnel Center (ARPERCEN) conducted a review of the applicant's records in March 1987 and authorized the issuance of the following awards:  the BSM with "V" device, the BSM for meritorious service, the PH, the Good Conduct Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation (formerly the Distinguished Unit Citation), the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars and Arrowhead device, the World War II Victory Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual military awards.  It states, in pertinent part, that an oak leaf cluster is awarded to denote the second and succeeding awards of certain decorations.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he was credited with a PH at the time of his separation.  In 1987, he was awarded a PH in conjunction with his award of the BSM with "V" device for heroism on 5 February 1945, during which time he was wounded.  Because his BSM was not listed on his separation document, it seems reasonable that the PH awarded as a result of the applicant's BSM for valor was not the one listed on his WD AGO Form 53-55, but a second award.

2.  The applicant is entitled to a BSM with "V" device and a BSM for meritorious service (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge).  He is also entitled to a Presidential Unit Citation (formerly Distinguished Unit Citation) based on the 2nd Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment having received that award under War Department General Order 31-46 for actions during the period 17-23 June 1945.

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 issuing to the individual concerned a correction to his WD AGO Form 53-55 showing that he is entitled to the following awards:  the BSM with "V" device and Oak Leaf Cluster ; the PH with Oak Leaf Cluster; the Good Conduct Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars and Arrowhead device; the World War II Victory Medal; the Combat Infantryman Badge; and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon.

BOARD VOTE:  

__tap___  __rwa___  __teo___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		    __Thomas A. Pagan__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000041167	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20001121	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	DASA	
ISSUES         1.	107.0014	
2.	107.0015	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.