PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:  18 January 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2000042323

	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. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Mr. John T. Meixell		Member	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		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 item 33 (Awards and Decorations) to show the entry “11th Abn Div [Airborne Division]” instead of 
the entry “17th Abn Division [Airborne Division]”, item 34 (Wounds Received in Action”) to show the entry “Leyte 9 Dec 44” instead of the entry “Leyte Feb 45”, and that item 41 (Service School Attended) be corrected to show the entry “Jump School” instead of the entry “None” of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation).

3.  The applicant states that item 33 (Awards and Decorations), item 
34 (Wounds Received in Action), and item 41 (Service School Attended) are incorrect on his WD AGO Form 53-55.  In support of his application he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55, an award certificate for the Purple Heart, and a copy of a certificate showing that he completed the Parachutist Packing Ground Training Course.

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 as a rifleman (745) on 20 February 1943.  He served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations from 31 May 1944 to 10 December 1945 and was honorably discharged on 6 January 1946.

5. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he was awarded the
American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars and one bronze arrowhead, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two bronze service stars, the Good Conduct Medal, the Purple Heart, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Distinguished Unit Badge.  

6.  Item 33 (Awards and Decorations) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the entry “17 Abn Div” [Airborne Division].

7.  Item 6 (Organization) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the entry “187th Glider Infantry Regiment” as his last unit of assignment.

8.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, list all units which served in World War II and the Korean Conflict.  This register lists the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division, as a valid unit. 

9.  The applicant provided a copy of an award certificate, which shows that he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on 19 December 1944 while serving in the Leyte, Philippine Islands while assigned to the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division.  

10.  The Total Army Personnel Command, Awards Branch has provided evidence that the applicant was wounded in action on 19 December 1944 while serving in the Leyte, Philippine Islands and while assigned to the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division.  The applicant was also awarded the Purple Heart by Headquarters, 11th Airborne Division General Order Number 
26, dated 19 February 1945.

11.  Item 41 (Service Schools Attended) on the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the entry “None”.

12.  The applicant provided a copy of a certificate from the 11th Airborne Division, which shows that he completed the Parachute Packing Ground Training Course and was rated a qualified parachutist on 1 May 1944.

13.  The Board notes the applicant’s discharge document shows that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.  There is no evidence the applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

14.  Department of the Army Technical Manual TM 12-235 (Discharge Procedures and Preparation of Separation Forms) established the policies and procedures for completion and distribution of the WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) during World War II.  This regulation states that service school courses at which the soldier completed satisfactorily will be entered in item 41 (Service School Attended) of the WD AGO Form 53-55.

15.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, sets forth requirements for award of the basic Parachutist Badge.  Award of the basic Parachutist Badge requires that an individual must have satisfactorily completed the prescribed proficiency tests while assigned or attached to an airborne unit or the Airborne Department of the Infantry School, or have participated in at least one combat parachute jump.

16.  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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows that he was wounded in action on 19 December 1944 while serving in the Leyte, Philippine Islands while assigned to the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division.  The evidence of record also shows that he was awarded the Purple Heart by Headquarters, 
11th Airborne Division General Order Number 26, dated 19 February 1945.  
Therefore, he is entitled to correction of item 33 (Awards and Decorations) to show the entry “11th Abn Div [Airborne Division]” instead of the entry “17th Abn Div [Airborne Division]” and item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) to show the entry “Leyte 19 Dec 44” instead of “Leyte Feb 45” on his WD AGO Form 53-55.

2.  The evidence of record shows that he completed the Parachute Packing Ground Training Course and was rated as a parachutist on 1 May 1944 by the 11th Airborne Division; therefore, he is entitled to correction of item 41 (Service School Attended) to show the entry “Parachute Packing Ground Training Course 1 May 1944“ instead of the entry “None” on his WD AGO Form 53-55.  

3.  The Board notes that he is entitled to award of the Parachutist Badge based on his completion of the Parachute Packing Ground Training Course.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of item 33 (Awards and Decorations) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show the Parachutist Badge.

4.  The evidence of record shows the applicant is entitled to the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge; however, this award was not shown on his discharge document.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show the award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

5.  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 for the individual concerned be corrected:

a.  by showing the entry “11th Abn Div” in item 33 (Awards and Decorations);

b.  by showing the entry “Leyte 9 Dec 44” in item 34 (Wounds Received in Action); 

c.  by showing the entry “Parachute Packing Ground Training Course 1 May 1944” in item 41 (Service Schools Attended);
d.  by showing that he was awarded the Parachutist Badge in item 33        (Awards and Decorations); and 

e.  by showing that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge in item 33 (Awards and Decorations) of his WD AGO Form 53-55.

BOARD VOTE:  

__js___  __jm___  ___mm___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__John N. Slone____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999030154	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20010118	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19431215	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  166		
2.  112		
3.  		
4.  		
5.		
6.