PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           04 APRIL 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002071001

	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. Deborah L. Brantley		Senior Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		Chairperson	
	Mr. Roger W. Able		Member	
	Ms. Karen Y. Fletcher		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 date of birth on his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) be corrected to reflect 25 February 1922 vice 22 February 1922.  In support of his request he submits a certified copy of his birth certificate.  The birth certificate confirms the applicant’s date of birth is 25 February 1922.

3.  Information available to the Board indicates that the applicant entered active duty on 20 April 1944, and served overseas between November 1944 and June 1945, where he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, which is incorrectly recorded as the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal on his separation document.  While overseas he was assigned to Company C of the 6th Armored Infantry Battalion.  

4.  The applicant was ultimately discharged on 17 March 1946, under a Certificate of Disability for Discharge, as a result of tuberculosis, which was determined to have been incurred in the line of duty.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 incorrectly reflects a date of birth of 22 February 1922.

5.  His separation report indicates that he participated in three designated campaign periods while overseas.  However, the document does not reflect the corresponding bronze service stars on his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.  Additionally, by virtue of the fact that the applicant was awarded a Combat Infantryman Badge during World War II he is entitled to a Bronze Star Medal.

6.  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 evidence confirms that the applicant’s date of birth is 25 February 1922 and that it is incorrectly recorded on his separation document as 22 February.  

2.  The Board also notes that in view of the fact that the applicant’s date of birth on his separation document requires correction; it would also be appropriate to correct his decorations to reflect entitlement to the Bronze Star Medal and to add three bronze service stars to his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

3.  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:

a.  by showing that his date of birth is 25 February 1922 vice 22 February 1922; and

b.  by showing that he is entitled to a Bronze Star Medal and three bronze service stars on his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

__AAO__  __RWA__  __KYF __  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Arthur A. Omartian____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002071001	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020404	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	110.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.