PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           1 February 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000044987

	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. William Blakely		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Luther L. Santiful		Chairperson	
	Mr. James E. Anderholm		Member	
	Ms. Barbara J. Lutz		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 item 3 (Grade) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) be corrected to show the rank of technician 5th grade.

3.  The applicant states that his discharge documents show his highest grade held as technician 3rd grade, when in fact his highest grade held was that of technician fifth grade.  In support of his application his submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55, along with a copy of his promotion certificate to technician     4th grade and technician 5th grade. 

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the fire that occurred at the National Records Center in 1973.  The information herein was gleaned form a copy of the applicant’s separation document and reconstructed records.

5.  His separation document shows he was inducted in the Army on 24 February 1941 and trained as a mechanic.  His awards include the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 
2 bronze service stars, and the Good Conduct Medal.  He was honorably discharged on 20 January 1947.  

6.  Item 3 (Grade) of the applicant’s WD AGO shows the date 31 July 1946, rather than the grade held at the time of discharge.  Item 38 (Highest Grade Held) shows technician 3rd grade.

7.  He was promoted to technician 5th grade temporary on 1 June 1942 and technician 4th grade temporary on 16 November 1942.

8.  The reverse side (Discharge Certificate) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 
53-55 shows he was discharged on 20 January 1947 in the rank of technician   3rd grade.

9.  Army Technical Manual 12-235 prescribes the separation documents and separation certificates which are prepared for enlisted personnel discharged, relieved from active duty, or transferred to a reserve component.  Section VI, paragraph 24, in effect at the time, states that the grade held at the time of
separation and the date of rank or appointment will be entered on the separation certificate.

10.  During the period from 1 September 1942 through 1 August 1948 the enlisted grade structure of the Army was comprised of seven grades.  They were grade 7 (private) through grade 1 (master sergeant/1st sergeant).  As of              1 October 1949 the enlisted grade structure was reversed to show each succeeding grade with a higher number.  Hence, private was grade 1 and master sergeants/1st sergeants were grade 7.  As it pertains to this case technician 3rd grade is a higher rank than technician 5th grade.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s discharge certificate shows his rank as technician 3rd grade, which is the highest grade he held.  Item 3 of his WD AGO 53-55 appears to reflect the applicant’s date of rank (31 July 1946) to that grade instead of the actual grade.

2.  The Board believes that the applicant may have become confused as to which grade is higher since the present grade structure is opposite of when he served.

3.  Item 38 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 also reflects his highest grade held as technician 3rd grade.  Therefore, item 3 (Grade) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 should be corrected to read technician 3rd grade.

4.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case, particularly item 3 (Grade) of the WD AGO Form 53-55 of the individual concerned be corrected to show his rank as technician 3rd grade. 

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__LLS__  __JEA___  __BJL___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Luther L. Santiful___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000044987	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20010201	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	110.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.