PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           15 March 2001                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000047590

	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	
	Mrs. Nancy Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Ernest M. Willcher		Chairperson	
	Mr. Richard T. Dunbar		Member	
	Mr. Ernest M. Willcher		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 Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, WD AGO Form 53-55, be corrected to show his organization as the 645th Tank Destroyer Battalion.

3.  The applicant states that he joined Reconnaissance Company, 645th Tank Destroyer Battalion and was attached to the 45th Infantry Division around February 1942.  He remained with that unit until he left Europe on 7 September 1945 with the 25th Tank Battalion.  Because the 645th Tank Destroyer Battalion is not listed, he is not getting credit for the Anzio and Ardennes-Alsace campaigns.

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire in 1973.  The information contained herein was obtained from alternate sources.

5.  The applicant was inducted into the Army and entered active service on          21 October 1941.  He arrived in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations (EAMET) on 11 May 1943.  

6.  A review of the 45th Infantry Division historical files at the National Archives, College Park, MD shows that the only tank destroyer battalion assigned was the 645th Tank Destroyer Battalion.  The applicant was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal on General Orders 1, Headquarters, 645th Tank Destroyer Battalion, APO 45 dated 16 June 1944.  

7.  The applicant departed the EAMET on 7 September 1945 and was separated on 26 September 1945.  His WD AGO Form 53-55, item 6 shows his organization as the 25th Tank Battalion; item 32 lists his campaigns as Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe.  Item 33 shows that he was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Ribbon, and a Bronze Service Arrowhead (for assault landing credit).

8.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 shows that the 645th Tank Destroyer Battalion participated in the Anzio and Ardennes-Alsace campaigns in addition to the five listed on the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55.  It also shows that the battalion received occupation credit for Germany.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 states the EAMET Campaign Medal is awarded for service within the EAMET between 7 December 1941 and 8 December 1945.  One bronze service star is authorized for each campaign; one silver service star is worn instead of five bronze service stars.  The Army of Occupation Medal of Germany is awarded for service for 30 consecutive days at a normal post of duty while assigned to Germany between 9 May 1945 and 5 May 1955; and the World War II Victory Medal is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and       31 December 1946.
10.  Technical Manual 12-235, which prescribed the policy and procedures for the preparation and distribution of separation documents during the period in question, stated that the last unit, or similar element to which the individual was assigned, rather than the element of which he was a part while moving to a separation activity, would be entered in item 6 (organization) of the WD AGO Form 53-55.  It also noted that assignments to units for the purpose of transfer from a theater to the United States was considered part of the movement to a separation activity.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There is sufficient evidence to conclude that the applicant was assigned to
the 645th Tank Destroyer Battalion while in the EAMET and that the 25th Tank Battalion was likely only the unit to which he was assigned for overseas departure and separation from active duty.  Based on this information, the applicant is also entitled to campaign credit for Anzio and Ardennes-Alsace for a total of seven campaigns.

2.  The applicant is also entitled to award of the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Medal with one silver service star and two bronze service stars in addition to the bronze arrowhead already listed on his WD AGO Form 53-55, the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

3.  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 be corrected by awarding the applicant the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Medal with one silver service star and two bronze service stars and bronze arrowhead, the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

2.  That the applicant’s WD AGO From 53-55 be amended to show his organization as the 645th Tank Destroyer Battalion, to add the Anzio and 
Ardennes-Alsace campaigns, and to add the European-African-Middle Eastern 

Theater Campaign Medal, the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

__emw___  __rtd___  __teo___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			Ernest M. Willcher
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000047590	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20010315	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	100.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.