PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:          

	BOARD DATE:               1 August 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AR2002070822

	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. Samuel A. Crumpler		Chairperson	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Member	
	Ms. Regan K. Smith		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 credit for participation in the Rhineland campaign and correction of 
item 33 (Decorations and Citations) to show an additional bronze service star to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon.

3.  The applicant states that block 32 on his discharge document only shows he participated in the Central Europe campaign and that his unit, Company M, 386th Infantry Regiment, also participated in the Rhineland campaign.  He states that block 33 on his discharge document only shows one bronze service star for the Central Europe campaign and a second bronze service star should have been awarded for the Rhineland campaign.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55; a letter and WD AGO Form 53-55 from a former service member; a letter from the wife of a former service member and a copy of her husband's 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 entered active duty on 23 February 1943 and completed training as a machine gunner.  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 2 March 1945 through 28 August 1945.  He also served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations from 25 September 1945 to approximately March 1946 and was honorably discharged on 12 March 1946.

5.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the Central Europe campaign in item 32.  His discharge document shows entitlement to the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with one bronze service star 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 that, at the time of the applicant’s assignment to Company M, 386th Infantry Regiment, the unit received campaign credit for the Central Europe campaign (22 March – 11 May 1945).  There is no evidence of record which shows this unit received campaign credit for participation in Rhineland.

7.  The Board noted that the applicant is entitled to award of the Army of Occupation Medal for Germany and the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge which are not shown on his discharge document.

8.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, will show whether or not a World War II unit was authorized occupation credit, thus entitlement to the Army of Occupation Medal.  This document shows the applicant’s unit received occupation credit for Germany for the period from 2 May to 4 June 1945.

9.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge during World War II.  

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides, in pertinent part, that the Bronze Star Medal is awarded for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service in military operations against an armed enemy.  The Bronze Star Medal is authorized for each individual who was cited in orders or awarded a certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat between 7 December 1941 and 
2 September 1945 or whose such achievement or service, during that period, was confirmed by documents executed prior to 1 July 1947.  An award of the Combat Infantryman Badge or the Combat Medical Badge is considered to be a citation in orders.  This means, in effect, that the Bronze Star Medal is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service during World War II.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board considered the applicant's contention that his unit, 386th Infantry Regiment, participated in the Rhineland campaign during World War II.  However, the Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) does not show that this unit received credit for participation in the Rhineland campaign.  Therefore, there is no basis for correcting item 32 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show the Rhineland campaign.

2.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with one bronze service star as an authorized award.  

3.  Based on the conclusion in paragraph 1, above, there is no basis for correcting item 33 of the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 to show an additional bronze service star to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon.

4.  The Board noted the statements and WD AGO Forms 53-55 from the former fellow soldiers in support of the applicant's claim for credit for participation in the Rhineland campaign and a second bronze service star to be affixed to his European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon.  However, these documents are not sufficient as a basis for amending the applicant's records.

5.  While the applicant was assigned to the 386th Infantry Regiment, the unit received occupation credit for Germany; therefore, he is entitled to award of the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany) and correction of his records to show this award.

6.  The applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge during 
World War II.  Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal 
(based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge) and correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show this award.

7.  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 by showing the individual concerned was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany) and the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge).

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

BOARD VOTE:  

SAC____  MHM____  RKS____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Samuel A. Crumpler____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002070822	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020802	
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.	107.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.