PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           23 July 2002      
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002070216

	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. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Jennifer L. Prater		Chairperson	
	Mr. Hubert O. Fry		Member	
	Ms. Gail J. Wire		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 award of the Belgian Fourragere.

3.  The applicant states that his discharge document does not list the Belgian Fourragere.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55.
 
4.  The applicant’s military records were destroyed or lost during the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show that the applicant enlisted on 
28 November 1939.  He served as an utility repairman in the European Theater of Operations from 7 August 1942 through 20 March 1945 and was honorably discharged on 30 May 1945.  

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the Belgian Fourragere as an authorized award.

6.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows, among other information, unit awards and citations authorized for units which served during World War II.  This document shows the unit to which the applicant was assigned was cited for the Belgian Fourragere for actions during the period 3-5 September 1944 and 
28-30 December 1944 by Department of the Army General Order 43-50.

7.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register shows the unit to which the applicant was assigned was cited for the French Fourragere for actions during the period 1 January 1943 to 30 April 1943 and on 6 June 1944 by Department of the Army General Order 43-50.  This foreign unit award is not shown on his discharge document.

8.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register shows the unit to which the applicant was assigned  was cited for three assault landings during World War II by War Department General Order 70-45 (Oran, North Africa during 3-10 November 1942; Gela and Scoglitti during 9-11 July 1943; and Normandy during 6-7 June 1944).  His discharge document does not show award of the bronze arrowhead device to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

9.  Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) on the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was wounded on 21 October 1944 in the European Theater of Operations.  The available records contain orders for the Purple Heart for wounds sustained on 21 October 1944.  However, the Purple Heart is not shown as an authorized award on his discharge document.

10.  The Board notes that the applicant is entitled to the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.  These awards are not shown on his discharge document.
 
11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, for the “arrowhead” to be worn on the appropriate service medal to denote participation in a combat parachute jump, helicopter assault landing, combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing while assigned or attached as a member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission.  The regulation specifies that individual assault credit is tied directly to the combat assault credit decision for the unit to which the soldier is assigned.  The regulation requires that the unit must be credited with a combat assault in order for the soldiers to receive credit for a combat assault and the soldier must physically exit the aircraft or the watercraft as appropriate.  The regulation also specifies that the arrowhead is authorized for wear on the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, but only one bronze arrowhead device may be worn on these service medals.

12.  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.

13.  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.  Evidence of record shows the applicant’s unit was cited for the Belgian Fourragere and the French Fourragere while he was assigned to it.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show these foreign unit awards.

2.  Evidence of record shows the applicant’s unit was cited for three assault landings during World War II.  Therefore, in accordance with the governing regulation, the applicant is entitled to correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show one bronze arrowhead to be affixed to his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. 

3.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was wounded in action on 
21 October 1944 in the European Theater of Operations.  His records also contain orders for award of the Purple Heart for wounds sustained on 21 October 1944.  However, the Purple Heart is not shown as an authorized award in item 
33 (Decoration and Citations) on the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of item 33 to show award of the Purple Heart.   
  
4.  The applicant is entitled to the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.  Therefore, his records should be corrected to show these awards.

5.  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 corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Belgian Fourragere, the French Fourragere, one bronze arrowhead to be affixed to the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Purple Heart, the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.    

BOARD VOTE:  

JPL____  HOF____  GJW_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Jennifer L. Prater__
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002070216	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20020723	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	 	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT PLUS)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0097	
2.	107.0000	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.