PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:          

	BOARD DATE:                6 June 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AR2002067667

	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:

	Mr. Stanley Kelley		Chairperson	
	Mr. John T. Meixell		Member	
	Mr. Thomas E. O'Shaughnessy		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 item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) on his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to show he received campaign credit for participation in Guadalcanal, Fiji Islands, and New Guinea.

3.  The applicant states that he was not given credit on his discharge document for the Guadalcanal and the New Guinea campaigns.  In support of his application, he submits a letter addressed to his congressman; his Honorable Discharge Certificate; his WD AGO Form 53-55; and a promotion certificate.

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 enlisted in the National Guard on 26 July 1940 and was ordered to active duty on 16 September 1940.  He served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations from 8 August 1942 through 1 March 1945 and was honorably discharged on 3 June 1945.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show any campaigns in item 32.

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 that, at the time of the applicant’s assignment to the 268th Coast Artillery Battalion, the unit received campaign credit for the Luzon Campaign (15 December 1944 – 4 July 1945) and the New Guinea Campaign (24 January 1943 - 31 December 1944).  There is no evidence of record which shows this unit received campaign credit for participation in Guadalcanal or Fiji Islands.

7.  The Board noted that the applicant is entitled to award of the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation, the World War II Victory Medal, and the American Campaign Medal which are not shown on his discharge document.

8.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) indicates that the 268th Coast Artillery Battalion was awarded the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation by Department of the Army General Order Number 47-50.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) 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 Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal.  

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the World War II Victory Medal.  It is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946, both dates inclusive.

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the American Campaign Medal.  This campaign medal is awarded for qualifying service in the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946.  Qualifying service includes permanent assignment outside the continental United States, duty as a crewmember aboard a vessel sailing ocean waters for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or duty outside the continental United States as a passenger or in a temporary duty status for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by a corps commander or higher, or service within the continental United States for an aggregate period of one year.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  While the applicant was assigned to the 268th Coast Artillery Battalion in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations, the unit received campaign credit for the Luzon Campaign and the New Guinea Campaign.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of item 32 on his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show the entries "Luzon" and "New Guinea."

2.  The Board considered the applicant's request for correction of his discharge document to show he received campaign credit for Guadalcanal and Fiji Islands. However, there is no evidence of record which shows the 268th Coast Artillery Battalion received campaign credit for participation in the Guadalcanal or the Fiji Islands.  Therefore, there is no basis for correcting his records to show these campaigns.

3.  Based on the correction in paragraph 1, above, the applicant is entitled to two bronze service stars to be affixed to his Asiatic-Pacific Theater Service Medal and correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show these awards.

4.  Orders show the applicant was awarded the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation; therefore, his WD AGO Form 53-55 will be amended to show this foreign award.

5.  Evidence of record shows the applicant served a period of qualifying service for award of the World War II Victory Medal and the American Campaign Medal; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these awards.

6.  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 this case be corrected:

a.  by amending item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of the individual concerned WD AGO Form 53-55 to show the entries "Luzon" and "New Guinea";

b.  by deleting the entry "ASIATIC PACIFIC SERVICE MEDAL" from item 33 (Decorations and Citations) on his WD AGO Form 53-55; and

c.  by showing he was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation, the World War II Victory Medal, and the American Campaign Medal.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

SK_______  JTM____  TEO____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Stanley Kelley________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002067667	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020606	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT IN PART	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	Mr. Schneider	
ISSUES         1.	100.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.