PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:     

	BOARD DATE:           6 February 2001                
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000046899

	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. Walter Avery, Jr.		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas Lanyi		Member	
	Mr. Walter T. Morrison		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 his military record be corrected to show that he was a prisoner of war (POW).

3.  The applicant states that he was a POW for 31 days, in France, during World War II.

4.  In support of his request, he submits a copy of War Department, Adjutant General Office (WD AGO) Form 53-55 (Separation Document), two Western Union telegrams apparently sent to his mother announcing that he was missing in action then returned to duty, copies of company morning reports one showing that he was killed in action (KIA), the other, a later report, shows him being transferred between hospitals, and a document showing the medical treatment he received.

5.  The applicant's military records were most likely destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Record Center.  The information herein was provided by the applicant and obtained from alternate sources.

6.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 indicates that he entered active duty on 24 June 1942, served in the European Theater of Operations from April 1944 to December 1945 and was honorably discharged on 19 December 1945.

7.  His awards include the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Battle Stars, the Purple Heart,  the World War II Victory Medal and the World War II Honorable Service Lapel Button.

8.  A Western Union telegram, dated 4 August 1944, states that the applicant was reported missing in action on 18 July 1944.  Another Western Union telegram, dated 15 November 1944, states that he was convalescing on 24 October 1944 after having been slightly wounded in action on 18 July 1944, in France.

9.  A copy of his unit’s morning report appear to reflect that the applicant was KIA, located, and then transferred to a US Army hospital.

10.  A medical treatment form dated 10 or 18 August 1944 indicates that the applicant was transferred from a POW hospital to the 35th US Evacuation Hospital on 6 August 1944.

11.  WD AGO Form 38 (Report of Physical Examination of Enlisted Personnel Prior to Discharge, Release From Active Duty or Retirement) reflects in block 11 an entry which reads “Wounded in action perforation bullet wound chest 1944 France-Prison hospital”.

12.  A member of the staff of the Board contacted the Department of the Army Adjutant Generals’ Office and determined that the applicant’s name is not shown on its listing of POW’s.

13.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides for award of the POW Medal.  It states, in pertinent part, that the POW Medal was authorized on 8 November 1985 and is awarded to individuals who in past-armed conflicts were taken prisoner or held captive.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record leads the Board to believe that the applicant was a POW for an undetermined period of time in France during World War II.  Despite his name not being listed on the POW rolls of the Adjutant General Office, it appears that he is entitled to the POW Medal and the medal should be reflected on his separation document. 

2.  Unfortunately, the available documentation does not make clear the date(s) of his captivity therefore, no entry of the period he was a POW can be made in the record.

3.  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:

a.  that the individual concerned was awarded the POW Medal; and

b.  issuing a correction to his WD AGO Form 53-55 reflecting the above change.

BOARD VOTE:  

________  ________  ________  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_________Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr._____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000046899	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20010206	
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.	130	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.