PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:  20 March 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2000049433

	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. 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, in effect, that he be awarded an additional bronze service star for his participation in the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign.

3.  The applicant states that item 18 (Decorations and Awards) of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) shows that he was awarded the “Citation In the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army”.  He also states that he has enclosed a copy of General Orders Number 24 (Units Entitled to Foreign Decorations) which shows that the citation was awarded to the 
26th Infantry Division for actions “during the German offensive of the Ardennes”
which was part of the “Ardennes Campaign”.  In support of his application he submits a copy of his DD Form 214, a copy of General Orders Number 24 (Units Entitled to Foreign Decorations) and a newspaper clipping.

4.  The applicant’s military records were destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show that he entered active duty on 17 May 1944 as a rifleman (745).  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations and was honorably discharged on 25 August 1945.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one bronze service star, the Bronze Star Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Purple Heart, the Combat 
Infantryman Badge, and the Citation in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army.
His discharge document does not show any additional bronze service stars.

6.  The applicant provided a copy of General Orders Number 24 (Units Entitled to Foreign Decorations) which shows that the 26th Infantry Division crossed the Belgian border in the neighborhood of Arlon and Bastogne between 20 December 1944 and 26 January 1945, during the German offensive of the Ardennes.

7.  The applicant provided a copy of a newspaper clipping which shows that his unit was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (correctly known as the Presidential Unit Citation).

8.  The Board notes that the applicant was awarded the “Citation in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army” which entitles him to credit for the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign, which occurred from 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945.  

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, provides, in pertinent part, that the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is awarded for service within the European African-Middle Eastern Theater between 7 December 1941 and 8 November 1945.  This medal is awarded to any service member who was permanently assigned in the theater, who was in a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days, or who was 
in active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration, or who was furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps or higher unit or independent force showing that he actually participated in combat.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also authorizes a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation or listed in item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of the WD AGO Form 53-55.  The regulation states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate campaign or service medal including the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows that the applicant was awarded the “Citation in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army” which was awarded during the Adennes-Alsace Campaign.  Therefore, he is entitled to an additional bronze service star for a total of two bronze service stars to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and is entitled to correction of item
13 (Awards and Decorations) of his DD Form 214 to show this award. 

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 for the individual concerned be corrected by showing in item 13 (Awards and Decorations) of his DD Form 214 that he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars.

BOARD VOTE:  

__fe___  ___wp___  __rw____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_____Fred N. Eichorn____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000049433	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20010320	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19450825	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  46		
2.  		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.