PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:  29 August 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2000042144

	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. Lee Cates		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John D. Miller		Chairperson	
	Mr. Charles Gainer		Member	
	Mr. Roger W. Able		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 records be corrected to show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).

3.  The applicant states that he served with Company A, 407th Infantry Regiment, 102d Infantry Division in October and November 1944 in the Red River Area of Germany.

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 show that he was enlisted into the Army on 14 May 1943 and entered active duty on 12 July 1943.  He completed his required training and was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 745 (Rifleman).  He was advanced to private first class.

5.  During the period 24 September 1944 to 17 July 1945, he served in the European Theater of Operations (ETO), with Company A, 407th Infantry Regiment, 102nd Infantry Division.

6.  WD AGO Form 100 (Separation Qualification Record), undated, indicates the applicant served in MOS 745 and fought in combat.

7.  General Orders Number 27, 102nd Infantry Division, dated 13 March 1945, awarded the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) for heroic achievement in Germany, for his actions on 29 November 1944.

8.  On 6 December 1945, he was honorably separated with a Certificate of Disability for Discharge.  His separation document indicates he had 2 years,       4 months and 25 days of creditable service.  He was awarded the BSM, the Good Conduct Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the American Campaign Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

9.  On 30 November 1989, he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in the ETO on 30 November 1944.

10.  War Department Circular 269-1943 established the CIB and the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB) to recognize and provide an incentive to infantrymen.  The EIB was to be awarded for attainment of certain proficiency standards or by satisfactory performance of duty in action against the enemy.  The CIB was awarded for exemplary conduct in action against the enemy.  War Department Circular 186-1944 further provided that the CIB Badge was to be awarded only to infantrymen serving with infantry units of brigade, regimental or smaller size.  The Awards Branch, Total Army Personnel Command, has advised in similar cases that, during World War II, the CIB was normally awarded only to enlisted individuals who served in the following positions:
    a.  Light machine gunner (604)
    b.  Heavy machine gunner (605)
    c.  Platoon sergeant (651)
    d.  Squad leader (653)
    e.  Rifleman (745)
    f.  Automatic rifleman (746)
    g.  Heavy weapons NCO (812)
    h.  Gun crewman (864)

11. Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides, in pertinent part, that the BSM is awarded for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service in military operations against an armed enemy.  The BSM 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 CIB or the Combat Medical Badge is considered to be a citation in orders.  This means, in effect, that the BSM is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service during World War II.

12. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Army of Occupation Medal (AOM) is awarded for service of thirty consecutive days at a normal post of duty in a qualifying location.  Personnel at a qualifying location as an inspector, courier, escort, temporary or detached duty are precluded from eligibility.  For Germany (G) service must have been between 9 May 1945 and 5 May 1955 and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal must have been awarded prior to 9 May 1945.

13. The bronze oak leaf cluster (OLC) is awarded to denote the second and succeeding awards of a certain decorations, among which is the Bronze Star Medal.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows the individual concerned was entitled to award the CIB based on his service in combat in MOS 745 and his records should be corrected accordingly.

2.  The evidence of record also shows that the BSM awarded on 13 March 1945 for actions on 29 November 1944 was for heroic actions and should have been awarded for Valor (V).

3.  Based on award of the CIB, he should be awarded the BSM with OLC.

4.  In view of the fact that the PH was awarded but there is no evidence it was made a matter of record, his separation document should be corrected to add that award.

5.  The evidence of record shows he is entitled to award of the AOM (G) for his service in Germany from 9 May 1945 until his departure on 17 July 1945.

6.  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 changing the records of the individual concerned to show that he:

	a.  was awarded the CIB for service in the ETO in 1944;

	b.  was awarded the BSM (V) vice the BSM awarded on 13 March 1945, for his actions on 29 November 1944; 

	c.  was awarded the BSM with OLC based on award of the CIB;

	d.  was awarded the PH for wounds received in action on 30 November 1944; and,

e.  was awarded the AOM (G) for his service in Germany from 9 May until 17 July 1945.

BOARD VOTE:  

__jm____  __cg___  __ra___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____John D. Miller____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000042144	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000829	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(NC, GRANT , DENY, GRANT PLUS)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.107	PH/CIB/BSM	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.