PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           7 August 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001057992

	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:

	Ms. Margaret K. Patterson		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas B. Redfern, III		Member	
	Ms. Regan K. Smith		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 Enlisted Record and Report of Separation (WD AGO Form 53-55) be corrected to show the award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM). 

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that item 33 (Decorations and Citations) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the BSM as an authorized award.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of a BSM certificate, dated 5 June 1989, signed by the Adjutant General and Secretary of the Army, which awarded him the BSM and a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55.

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

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that on 14 January 1943, he was inducted into the Army of the United States and that he served on active duty until being honorably separated, in the rank of private first class, on 18 January 1946.  It also shows that he was trained in military occupational specialty 657 (Medical Aidman) and that he served overseas for 11 months and 14 days.  This document also confirms that he earned the following awards during his active duty tenure:  American Service Medal; Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; and World War II Victory Medal.  The BSM is not included in the list of awards contained in this separation document. 

6.  The applicant provided a BSM certificate that confirms on 5 June 1989, he was awarded the BSM by the Adjutant General and Secretary of the Army.  The citation indicates he received the award for meritorious achievement in ground combat against the armed enemy during World War II in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, that the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is awarded in time of war for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service. 

CONCLUSIONS:

1. Notwithstanding the fact that the applicant was awarded the BSM subsequent to his separation, the Board finds the BSM certificate provided by the applicant is sufficient evidence to confirm he earned the award for meritorious achievement in ground combat during World War II.  Therefore, the Board concludes it would be appropriate to correct his record to reflect he earned 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, particularly the WD AGO Form 53-55 of the individual concerned, be corrected by showing that he was awarded the BSM for meritorious achievement in ground combat against the armed enemy during World War II in the European-African- Middle Eastern Theater of Operations.

BOARD VOTE:  

__MKP   _  __TBR __  __RKS__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Margaret K. Patterson__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001057992	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	2001/08/07	
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.