PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:  10 October 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2002066388

	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. Raymond J. Wagner		Chairperson	
	Mr. John T. Meixell		Member	
	Mr. Roger W. Able		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 Honorable Discharge to show his rank as Technician 5th Grade instead of Private First Class.

3.  The applicant states that his highest rank held during World War II was "T-5"
instead of "PFC."  In support of his application he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) and a copy of his WD AGO Form 100 (Separation Qualification Record).

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 entered active duty on 3 November 1942.  His assignments include duties as a heavy artillery mechanic and a dental technician.  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 25 January 1945 to 18 December 1945, and continued to serve until he was honorably discharged on 23 February 1946.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55, which is authenticated in his own hand, shows in item 38 (Highest Grade Held) the entry "PFC" (Private First Class/Grade 6).  It also shows in item 3 (Grade) the entry "PFC." 

6.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 100 (Separation Qualification Record), military occupational assignments section, shows in item 10 (months) the entry "24",
in item 11 (Grade) the entry "Tec 5" (Technician 5th Grade/Grade 5) and in item 
12 (military occupational specialty (MOS)) the entry "Artillery Mechanic Heavy (915)."  The next entry in this section shows "21 months, Pfc, Dental Technician (855)."

7.  There are insufficient records available to the Board to show what caused the applicant’s reduction to the rank of "PFC."

8.  The purpose of the WD AGO Form 100 (Separation Qualification Record) was to assist World War II veterans in post-service employment, education, or any other endeavor by the service member.  The form was prepared based on service personnel records and personal interview for a very specific purpose and was not intended as a replacement or substitute for the official records of the individual’s service.  For these reasons, this form was prepared on a one-time basis and was not replaced or edited after the fact.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 100 shows that the applicant served as 
"Tec 5" for 24 months as a heavy artillery mechanic (915).  It is reasonable to believe that the applicant served as a "Tec 5" as a heavy artillery mechanic and had to revert to "PFC" for his duties as a dental technician as reflected on his 
WD AGO Form 100.  Therefore, item 38 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 should be corrected to show the entry "Tec 5."

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 38 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 the entry "Tec 5." 

BOARD VOTE:  

__rw___  ___jm___  __ra____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Raymond J. Wagner___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002066388	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20021010	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19460323	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  306		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.