PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           26 July 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001057718

	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. William Blakely		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Hubert O. Fry, Jr.		Member	
	Mr. Eric N. Anderson		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 his military records be corrected to show award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM). 

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) does not show award of the BSM.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation (WD AGO Form 53-55) and Authorization for Issuance of Awards (DA Form 1577) dated 4 March 2000.

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire in 1973.  The information herein was gleaned from a copy of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation).

5.  His separation document shows he was inducted on 24 October 1944 and  served as an infantryman.  He was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Army of Occupational Medal (Germany), and the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).  He attained the rank of Technician 3rd Grade, pay grade E-5 and was honorably released from active duty on 27 July 1946.

6.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the BSM as an authorized award.

7.  DA Form 1577 dated 4 March 2000, submitted by the applicant issued him the BSM, and reissued him the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Army of Occupational Medal (Germany), and the CIB.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides, in pertinent part, that the BSM is awarded for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service in military operations against an armed enemy.  The BSM 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 such achievement or service, during that period, was confirmed by documents executed prior to 1 July 1947.  An award of the CIB or the Combat Medical Badge is considered to be a citation in orders.  This means, in effect, that the BSM is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service during World War II.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Regulatory guidance authorizes awarding the BSM for those individuals who were authorized the CIB or the Combat Medical Badge during World War II.  The Board notes that the applicant was awarded the CIB during World War II.  Therefore, he is entitled to the BSM and correction of his military records 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 be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the BSM.

BOARD VOTE:  

__RVO_  __ HOF __  __ENA__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.__
		            CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	A2001057718	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	2001/07/26	
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.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.