PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:  20 March 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2000049222

	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. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Mr. William D. Powers		Member	
	Mr. Raymond  J. Wagner		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 he be supplied with all medals and honors that are due him as a result of serving with the 16th Infantry Regiment, First Infantry Division; the 350th Field Artillery Battalion; and the 571st Field Artillery Battalion during World War II.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he was one of the 2221 African-American Volunteers after the Battle of the Bulge who volunteered for infantry duty.  After combat infantry training, he was assigned to the 16th Infantry Regiment.  When the war was over, he was taken from his combat unit and assigned to the 350th Field Artillery Battalion and never given recognition which was afforded the majority of soldiers who remained with their respective combat divisions.  The applicant provides a copy of a WD AGO Form 0150-4, Transcript from Enlisted Records, and a WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge, both with discharge certificates; and a letter and certificate of discharge as a Second Lieutenant from the Army Reserve.

4.  The applicant’s military records were not available.  A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members’ records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973.  It is believed that the applicant’s records were lost in that fire.

5.  According to the copies of the two WD AGO Forms supplied by the applicant, he was inducted into the Army on 3 August 1943 and entered active service 
24 August 1943.  He departed for the European Theater of Operations (ETO) on 
7 May 1944, arriving there on 14 May 1944.  While a member of the Service Battery, 350th Field Artillery Battalion stationed at Grafenwohr, Germany, he was honorably discharged on 9 July 1946 for immediate reenlistment on 10 July 1946.  He was later reassigned to Battery B, 571st Field Artillery Battalion.  He departed the ETO on 27 August 1946, arriving in the United States on 6 September 1946.  He was honorably discharged on 17 July 1947 at the expiration of his term of service.  He then enlisted in the Army Reserve as a T/Sgt.  He was discharged from the Army Reserve on 22 August 1953, as a Second Lieutenant of Artillery.

6.  In his first term of service, he rose to his highest rank of Technical Sergeant (T/Sgt) and was discharged as such.  He remained a T/Sgt during his second period of enlistment and was again discharged as such.

7.  A group of 2221 African-American Volunteers 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).  Some volunteers were not restored to their original rank before they were discharged.  It has been determined that such a condition was unjust.

8.  During his first term of service, he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, a Service Star, and the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) according to General Orders 23, Headquarters, 16th Infantry Regiment.  He was given credit for participation in the Central Europe Campaign.  During his second term of service, he was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, and the Occupational Ribbon (presumably refers to the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp).

9.  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).

10.  According to Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, paragraph 5-12, 
a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, between 7 December 1941 and 8 November 1945, served in the European, African, and/or Middle Eastern areas of operations, is authorized the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (EAME).  One bronze service star is authorized for the EAME for each campaign participated in when the soldier is assigned or attached to, and present for duty, with a unit in combat in the areas of operation or was awarded a combat decoration.

11.  The Army of Occupation of Medal with Germany clasp is authorized by Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, paragraph 5-12, 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 Easter Campaign Medal was awarded for service before 2 May 1945.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  In consideration of his CIB, and according to AR 600-8-22, paragraph 3-13, the applicant is authorized the BSM.

2.  In consideration of his CIB and credit for participation in the Central European Campaign, and according to AR 600-8-22, paragraph 5-12, the applicant is authorized the EAME with one bronze service star.

3.  The reference on the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 to the Occupational Ribbon is presumed to mean the applicant is authorized the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp.

4.  The applicant was discharged at the highest rank that he had attained.  Therefore, there is no issue on restoring rank lost as a result of being a 
2221 African-American Volunteer.

5.  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.  awarding him the BSM and the EAME with one bronze service star;

b.  providing him with these medals; 

	c.  issuing a new DD Form 214 for the period 24 August 1943 through 
9 July 1946 to include showing that he was awarded the BSM, the CIB, the EAME with one bronze service star, and the Good Conduct Medal.

	d.  issuing a new DD Form 214 for the period 10 July 1946 through 
17 July 1947 to include showing that he was awarded the BSM, the CIB, the EAME with one bronze service star, the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp, the Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

___fe___  ___wp___  ___rw___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Fred N. Eichorn___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000049222	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20010320	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	Grant	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107 - Decorations and Awards	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.