PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:          

	BOARD DATE:               15 November 2001               
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AR2001062066

	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. Beverly A. Young		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright		Chairperson	
	Mr. Stanley Kelley		Member	
	Ms. Karen A. Heinz		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 correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to show the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign in item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) and to show the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three “bronze battle stars” (currently known as bronze service stars) and the Meritorious Service Medal in item 33 (Decorations and Campaigns).  He also requests correction of item 4 (Arm or Service) to show the entry “Inf” [Infantry] instead of “QM” [Quartermaster].

3.  The applicant states that he never served in the Quartermaster and that the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign was approved and issued after his discharge.  In support of his application, he submits a supplemental letter and a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55.

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show he was inducted on 4 September 1944 and served as an heavy machine gunner in the European Theater of Operations from 30 January 1945 to 7 May 1946.  The applicant was honorably discharged on 17 June 1946.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign in item 32.  His discharge document shows entitlement to the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars in item 33.

6.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows, among other information, campaign credit during World War II.  This document shows the unit to which the applicant was assigned, the 255th Infantry Regiment, received campaign credit for the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign (16 December 1944-25 January 1945).

7.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the Meritorious Service Medal as an authorized award.  There are no orders in the available records which show that he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

8.  Item 4 of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the entry “QM”.  His discharge document shows he was awarded an infantry military occupational specialty (MOS) and was assigned to the 255th Infantry Regiment, 63d Division in the European Theater of Operations.  

9.  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 and states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate campaign or service medal including the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.  
10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, that the Meritorious Service Medal was established on 16 January 1969 and is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly foreign nation who distinguish themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service in a noncombat area.  As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.  

11.  Department of the Army Technical Manual TM 12-235 (Discharge Procedures and Preparation of Separation Forms) established the policies and procedures for completion and distribution of the WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) during World War II.  The regulation states, in pertinent part, that the individual’s arm or service of the last unit or similar element to which he was assigned, rather than the arm or service of the element of which he was a part while moving to a separation activity, will be entered in item 4 of the WD AGO Form 53-55.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  While the applicant was assigned to the 255th Infantry Regiment in the European Theater of Operations, the unit received campaign credit for the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign; therefore, he is entitled to correction of item 32 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show the entry “Ardennes-Alsace”.

2.  Based on paragraph 1, above, the applicant is entitled to three bronze service stars for wear on his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and correction of item 33 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show these awards.   

3.  There is no evidence available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows that he was recommended for or awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.  Therefore, there is no basis for awarding the applicant the Meritorious Service Medal. 

4.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he served in an infantry MOS and was assigned to an infantry unit prior to his discharge.  Therefore, the Board determined that this evidence is sufficient as a basis for amending item 4 of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 to show his branch of service as infantry. 

5.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to the individual concerned be corrected:

	a.  by deleting the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars from item 33 (Decorations and Citations) of his WD AGO Form 53-55;

	b.  by showing the entry “Ardennes-Alsace” in item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of his WD AGO Form 53-55;

	c.  by showing he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars in item 33 of his WD AGO Form 53-55;

	d.  by deleting the entry “QM” from item 4 (Arm or Service) of his WD AGO Form 53-55; and 

	e.  by adding the entry “INF” to item 4 (Army or Service) of his WD AGO Form 53-55.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

INW____  SK______  KAH_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Irene N. Wheelwright__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001062066	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20011115	
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.	100.0000	
2.	107.0017	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.