PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:  27 February 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2000047204

	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. Roger W. Able		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 6 (Organization)
to show “Company B, 272nd Infantry Regiment, 69th Infantry Division” instead of “778 ORD LIGHT MAINT CO” [778th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company] as his last unit of assignment and item 30 (Military Occupational Specialty and No.) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to show “Rifleman 745” instead of “TRUCK DRIVER LIGHT 345”.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that item 6 and item 30 are incorrect on his 
WD AGO Form 53-55.  He also states that he was never assigned to the 778th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company; however, this unit was his last unit of assignment at the time of his discharge.  He further states that he never held the military occupational specialty (MOS) of truck driver light (345).  He goes on to state that while overseas, he was an infantryman with Company B, 272nd Infantry Regiment, 69th Infantry Division, and that he was attached to the 
778th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company for the last 3 weeks as a jeep 
driver.  In support of his application he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 
53-55 and a copy of a historical document pertaining to the 69th Infantry Division.

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 he was inducted on 21 December 1943 as a light truck driver (345).  He served in the European Theater of Operations from 7 August 1944 to 24 March 1946 and was honorably discharged on 9 April 1946. 

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars, the Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Sharpshooter Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar.

6.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55, which was authenticated in his
own hand, shows “778 ORD LIGHT MAINT CO” [778th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company] as his last unit of assignment.  The applicant’s Honorable Discharge Certificate, dated 9 April 1946, shows 778th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company as his unit.

7.  The applicant provided a copy of a historical document pertaining to the 
69th Infantry Division.  This document shows the applicant was assigned to the
69th Infantry Division.

8.  The Center for Military History has provided evidence that the infantry regiment that the applicant had been previously assigned to was inactivated on 22 September 1945. 

9.  Item 30 on the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55, which was authenticated in his own hand, shows the entry “TRUCK DRIVER LIGHT 345” [light truck driver].

10.  The applicant’s discharge document shows that his branch of service was ordnance.  His discharge document also shows that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge by General Orders Number 4, Headquarters, 272nd Infantry Regiment on 1 April 1945.  However, there is no evidence in the available records which shows that the applicant was awarded or held the MOS of 745 (Rifleman).

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

12.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows the applicant’s unit 
(Company B, 272nd Infantry Regiment, 69th Infantry Division) received occupation credit for qualifying service in Germany from 2 May 1945 to 3 September 1945.

13.  Based on regulation in effect at the time, a service member’s unit of assignment at the time of his separation from the service was entered in Item 
6 (Organization) of the WD AGO Form 53-55.  The unit shown in item 6 was not necessarily the same unit with which the applicant served during World War II.  
If the service member was transferred to a unit at a separation center for the purpose of discharge processing, then the unit shown in item 6 was the unit 
from which the soldier was separated.  This is an important entry because it assists in locating a soldier’s military records.

14.  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.

15.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Army of Occupation Medal is awarded for service of thirty consecutive days at a normal post of duty in a qualifying location.  Personnel at a qualifying location as an inspector, courier, escort, temporary or detached duty are precluded from eligibility.  For Germany service must have been between 9 May 1945 and 5 May
1955 and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal must have been awarded prior to 9 May 1945.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record provided by the applicant shows that he was assigned to the 272nd Infantry Regiment, 69th Infantry Division during World War II and that this unit was inactivated on 22 September 1945.  However, there is no evidence available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows he was assigned to this unit at the time of his discharge.  

2.  The Board notes that applicant’s contention that he was never assigned to the 778th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company.  However, the evidence of record shows the applicant signed his WD AGO Form 53-55 on 9 April 1946, attesting to the fact that the 778th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company was his last unit of assignment.  Therefore, he is not entitled to correction of item 6 of his WD AGO Form 53-55.

3.  The Board also notes the applicant’s contention that he never held the MOS of truck driver light (345) and that he was an infantryman with Company B, 272nd Infantry Regiment, 69th Infantry Division.  The Board also notes that the applicant signed his WD AGO Form 53-55 attesting to the fact that he was inducted as a light truck driver (345), that his branch of service was ordnance and that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.  However, there is no evidence to show that he was ever awarded or held the MOS of 745 (Rifleman).
Therefore, he is not entitled to correction of item 30 of his WD AGO Form 53-55.

4.  The evidence of record also 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.  The applicant was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his record to show this award.

6.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case for the individual concerns be corrected by showing in item 33 (Decorations and Awards) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__js____  __ra____  __mm___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___John N. Slone_____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000047204	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20010227	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19460409	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT/DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  1021		
2.  46		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.