PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           22 August 2002                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002069690

	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. W. W. Osborn, Jr.		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. JoAnn H. Langston		Chairperson	
	Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.		Member	
	Ms. Barbara J. Lutz		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 that his records be corrected to show that he is entitled to the Army Of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp.

3.  The applicant states in effect, that his unit, the 152nd Airborne Antiaircraft Battalion, 11th Airborne Division, served in the occupation of Japan.  He submits photographs and articles for newspaper and magazine articles to substantiate his case.  The articles state that the 11th Airborne Division was the first ground force unit to occupy Japan and the 152nd Airborne Antiaircraft Battalion served at Akita. 

4.  The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Information herein was obtained from reconstructed personnel records.  Available documents show that he was inducted and entered service on 19 June 1943.  He embarked for the South Western Pacific Theater of Operations on 5 March 1944 and returned to the United States on 7 January 1946.

5.  He was separated with an honorable discharge on14 January 1946.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) shows that he was authorized the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one bronze star, the Good Conduct Medal, the Glider Badge, the Marksman Qualification Badge with Carbine and Sub-Machinegun Bars, and the Bronze Arrowhead.  It also shows that he was credited with campaign credit for New Guinea, Southern Philippines and Luzon.

6.  Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Credit Register, shows that the 152nd Airborne Antiaircraft Battalion was authorized campaign credit for the Leyte, Luzon and New Guinea campaigns and that it was awarded a Bronze Arrowhead for an assault landing at Nasugbu Point, New Guinea on 29 January 1945.   However, it does not show occupation credit for Japan nor campaign credit for the Southern Philippines campaign.

7.  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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's submissions have been considered, however in light of all the available evidence there is insufficient justification to change the applicant's 
WD AGO 53-55 by authorizing the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp.

2.  The applicant's unit participated in three designated campaigns and he is entitled to wear three bronze service stars on the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.

3.  He is entitled to the World War II Victory Medal and this award should be listed on the separation document. 

4.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, correcting the applicant’s records as recommended below will correct an error.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned is authorized three bronze service stars for wear on the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__JHL___  __RVO__  __BJL__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		  _    JoAnn H. Langston______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002069690	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20020822	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PART	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.