PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:  14 September 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2000045408

	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. Paul A. Petty		                       Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor		Chairperson	
	Mr. Elzey J. Arledge		Member	
	Ms. Margaret Patterson		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, that his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation from World War II show his combat unit as his organization at discharge, his grade (rank) the same as his highest grade (rank) held, that he be awarded any military awards for which he is authorized but has not received; and that he receive a separation certificate for the same period showing his highest rank held and his combat unit of assignment.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that in 1945 during WWII, he was in combat with CC Reserve Rifle Company, 10th Armored Infantry Battalion.  He provides a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge; his DD Form 256A, Honorable Discharge Certificate; and a 9 June 1955 letter order from the office of the Adjutant General of the Military Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri, announcing award of the Bronze Star Medal to the applicant.  The Bronze Star Medal was awarded for exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy on or about 17 April 1945 while assigned as a Private in the 10th Armored Infantry Battalion.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army on 
6 February 1943.  On 2 May 1944, he was shipped overseas to the European Theater of Operations arriving 14 May 1944.  He was advanced to the rank of Technician Fourth Grade (T/4) as an electrician.

5.  The applicant is one of 2221 African-American Volunteers who volunteered for infantry duty in early 1945 in response to a 26 December 1944 call from Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, for such volunteers to replace infantry losses experienced during the Battle of the Bulge in WWII.  A condition of volunteering for African-American soldiers was administrative reduction to Private (PVT) or Private First Class (PFC).  After volunteering, the applicant received combat infantry training in France for six weeks and was then assigned to the 10th Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division, as a PVT in the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 745 - Rifleman.  He fought with this unit in combat.  The applicant was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) by the 10th Armored Infantry Battalion.  He was wounded in action on 30 April 1945 and awarded the Purple Heart.  The applicant was later transferred to Headquarters, 19th Armored Infantry Battalion, 14th Armored Division.  He was not restored to his pre-volunteer rank of T/4.  He departed Europe on 31 July 1945 and arrived back in the United States on 13 August 1945.  He was honorably discharged on 30 October 1945 by reason of demobilization.  In addition to the CIB and the Purple Heart, he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 bronze service stars.  In 1955, he was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal in connection with the award of his CIB.

6.  According to Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, paragraph 3-13, a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945, was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), the Combat Medical Badge (CMB), or other certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat against an armed enemy, is eligible for award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM).

7.  The American Theater Campaign Medal is authorized by Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, for any soldier who served in the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946 within the continental limits of the United States for an aggregate period of 1 year.

8.  The Good Conduct Medal is awarded to soldiers who distinguish themselves from among their fellow soldiers by their exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity according to Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, chapter 4, section I.  The qualifying periods of service include: 3 years completed on or after 27 August 1940, and for the first award only, 1 year served entirely during the period 7 December 1941 to 2 March 1946.

9.  According to Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, the Army of Occupation of Medal with Germany clasp is authorized for soldiers who served 
30 consecutive days in Germany (exclusive of Berlin) between 2 May 1945 and 5 May 1955.  Service between 2 May and 8 November 1945 will be counted only if the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for service before 2 May 1945.  The 10th Armored Infantry Battalion was authorized Germany Occupation credit from 2 May 1945 through 31 October 1945.  The 19th Armored Infantry Battalion was authorized Germany occupation credit from 
20 May 1945 through 4 September 1945.

10.  The World War II Victory Medal is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946 according to Army Regulation 600-8-2, Military Awards, paragraph 5-11.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's Enlisted Record and Report of Separation from World War II should show his combat unit of assignment as the 10th Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division; his MOS as 745, Rifleman; and his grade the same as his highest grade (rank) held, T/4.

2.  His Honorable Discharge Certificate, DD Form 256A, for the same period should show his rank as Technician Fourth Grade and his combat unit of assignment as 10th Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division.

3.  He is authorized the following additional awards which should be noted on his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation and the medals provided to him: the Good Conduct Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp, the American Theater Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.  The Bronze Star Medal awarded to him in 1955 should also be added to his separation report.

4.  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 for the individual concerned by:

	a.  correcting the Honorable Enlisted Record and Report of Separation from World War II to show his combat unit of assignment as the 10th Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division; his MOS as 745, Rifleman; and his grade the same as his highest grade (rank) held, T/4;

	b.  issuing him a new Honorable Discharge Certificate, DD Form 256A, dated 30 October 1945 showing his rank as Technician Fourth Class and his combat unit of assignment as the 10th Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division; and

	c.  showing on his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation the following additional awards and providing him with the medals (except the Bronze Star Medal provided in 1955): the Bronze Star Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp, the American Theater Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

__ro___  __ea___  __mp____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Raymond V. O’Connor___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000045408	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000914	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.107	Decorations and Awards	
2.106.001	Restoration	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.