PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:            31 August 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000042317

	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. Hubert S. Shaw, Jr.		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Samuel A. Crumpler		Chairperson	
	Ms. Barbara J. ellis		Member	
	Mr. Joe R. Schroeder		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 correction of his DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show the Prisoner of War Medal, the French Croix de Guerre, the British Parachutist Badge, correctly known as the British Army Parachutist Badge.

3.  The applicant states that his military records show that he was a prisoner of war.  He states that he was serving in the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment when he was captured at Normandy, France, and he escaped.  He also states that his unit was awarded the French Croix de Guerre and he provided a copy of the citation.  The applicant also stated that he served in detached service with the 1st British Airborne Division to include jumping from British Aircraft with British crews and with British Jumpmasters.  In support of his application, he provided a copy of the citation for the French Croix de Guerre awarded to the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, a copy of his DA Form 66 (Officer Qualification Record, a picture of himself and a picture of his jeep.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was separated in the rank of Brigadier General from active duty due to retirement on 31 October 1972 after a distinguished career spanning over 33 years.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show the Prisoner of War Medal, the French Croix de Guerre or the British Army Parachutist Badge as authorized awards.

6.  The applicant’s service personnel records contain a WD AGO Form R5072 (Statement or Report of Interview of Recovered Personnel) which states that he was captured on 10 June 1944, escaped and was returned to U.S. military control on 15 June 1944.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 66-1 (Officer’s and Warrant Officer’s Qualification Card) shows that he was missing in action on 9 June 1944 and returned to U.S. control, as an escaped prisoner of war, on 15 June 1944.

7.  The applicant provided a copy of the certificate awarding the French Croix de Guerre with Palm in April 1946 to the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment for its actions during the Battle of Normandy from 6 to 20 June 1944.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows, among other information, unit awards authorized for units which served during World War II.  This document shows the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment was cited twice for the French Croix de Guerre (5-6 June 1944 and 6-20 June 1944) which resulted in award of the French Fourragere based on Department of the Army General Orders 43-50.  The French Fourragere is listed on the applicant’s DD Form 214.  

8.  There are no War Department or Department of the Army General Orders showing award of the Croix de Guerre to the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment. However, the General Order awarding the French Fourragere shows that Decision 159 and Decision 160 by the French Government awarded the French Croix de Guerre to the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

9.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 66 contains in item 31 the entry:  “Spent one month in England with British parachute troops studying set up of med [medical] units in Airborne units.”  His service personnel records do not show that he completed British Army Parachute training.  There also is no evidence that he was awarded the British Army Parachutist Badge or was authorized to receive and wear this foreign badge.

10.  The Board noted that the applicant was awarded the Combat Medical Badge during World War II. The Board also noted the applicant received the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service by 82d Airborne Division General Orders Number 51, dated 30 August 1944.  However, his records do not show award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Medical Badge.

11.  Army Regulation 635-5 establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing the DD Form 214.  In pertinent part, it directs that the unit of assignment, country and dates of capture and release will be entered in the “Remarks” section of the DD Form 214.

12.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides for award of the French Fourragere as an approved foreign unit award.  The French Fourragere may be awarded by the French Government when a unit has been cited twice for award of the French Croix de Guerre.  When a unit is cited twice for the Croix de Guerre, then the colors of the fourragere are red and green.  When a unit is cited four times, the colors of the fourragere are yellow and green.  Award of the fourragere is not automatic and requires a decree by the French Government, and persons who were only in one action are not authorized to wear the fourragere.  

13.  In a 28 March 1983 letter, the U.S. Army Military Personnel Center published the policy regarding awards of the French Croix de Guerre to U.S. Army veterans who had served in World War I and World War II.  Essentially, this guidance states that there is no individual emblem presented to or worn by Army soldiers who were in a unit cited by the French Government for the Croix de Guerre.  Thus, former members of any American units, which are listed in Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Credit Register) for award of the French Croix de Guerre, are not authorized an individual device.  This is also true of the Belgian Citation in the Order of the Day and the Netherlands Military Order of William.  As a result, the only European foreign unit awards which a former Army service member may wear are the French Fourragere, the Belgian Fourragere and the Netherlands Orange Lanyard.  

14.  Army Regulation 600-8-2 provides in pertinent part, that qualification and special skill badges may be accepted if awarded in recognition of meeting the criteria, as established by the foreign government concerned for the specific award.  Only those badges which are awarded in recognition of military activities and by the military department of the host country are authorized for acceptance and permanent wear.  Badges which do not meet these criteria may be authorized for acceptance, but not for wear, and will not be entered in the official military records of the recipient.  

15.  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.

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

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows the applicant was a prisoner of war from 9 through 15 June 1944 during World War II.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show award of the Prisoner of War Medal and correction of item 30 (Remarks) of his DD Form 214 to show the entry “Prisoner of War, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, France, 440609-440615”.

2.  Evidence shows that the unit to which the applicant was assigned during World War II was cited twice by the French Government for award of the French Croix de Guerre and, as a result, was awarded the French Fourragere by Department of the Army General Orders.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show that he received the French Croix de Guerre as a unit award.  

3.  There is no evidence the applicant completed the requirements established by the British Army for award of the British Army Parachutist Badge during his service in England.  There also is no evidence the applicant was authorized to receive or was awarded the British Army Parachutist Badge.  

4. The applicant was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service.  He is also entitled to award of a Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Medical Badge during World War II.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his records to show two awards of the Bronze Star Medal, correctly known as the Bronze Star Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster).

5.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing the individual concerned was awarded the Prisoner of War Medal, by showing in item 30 (Remarks) of his DD Form 214 the entry “Prisoner of War, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, France, 440609-440615”, by showing that he is entitled to the Bronze Star Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) and by showing award of the French Croix de Guerre as a unit award.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

_BJE____  _SAC___  _JRS____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Samuel A. Crumpler____________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000042317	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000831	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19721031	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-40	
DISCHARGE REASON	DISABILITY	
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	MR SCHNEIDER	
ISSUES         1.	107.000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.