PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:           

	BOARD DATE:                14 September 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR2000046154

	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. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Ms. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Ms. Margaret K. Patterson		Member	
	Mr. Elzey J. Arledge, Jr.		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 award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

3.  The applicant states that the Combat Infantryman Badge was awarded to him on 10 August 1944; however, he never received this award.  In support of his application he submits a copy of General Orders Number 7, dated 10 August 1944 and a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation).

4.  The applicant’s military records were destroyed or lost during the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were 
obtained from alternate sources and show that the applicant was inducted on 13 August 1942.  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 19 June 1943 to 28 July 1945 and was honorably discharged on 11 October 1945.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show the Combat Infantryman Badge as an authorized award.

6.  The applicant provided a copy of General Orders Number 7, dated 10 August 1944 which awarded the applicant the Combat Infantryman Badge under the provisions of Circular 186, War Department, dated 11 May 1944 for exemplary conduct in action against the enemy.

7.  The Board notes that the applicant is eligible for award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  However, there is no evidence he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

8.  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.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and is entitled to the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

2.  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 showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

BOARD VOTE:  

RVO____  MKP____  EJA_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_RAYMOND V. O’CONNOR JR._____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000046154	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000914	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19451011	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	Grant	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  60		
2.  157		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.