PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           12 September 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002071684

	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. Nancy L. Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Mr. Donald P. Hupman, Jr.		Member	
	Mr. William D. Powers		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 the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, the Combat Medical Badge, the Army of Occupation Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citation be added to his Report of Separation, WD AGO Form 53-55.  In addition, he would like his military occupational specialty in item 30 changed to reflect combat medic.

3.  The applicant states that his WD AGO Form 53-55 does not accurately reflect his awards.  In addition, he was not a medical technician, he was a combat medic.  He provides no supporting evidence.

4.  The applicant’s military records were partially burned during the National Personnel Records Center fire in 1973.  His WD AGO Form 53-55, item 33, shows that he was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal, Purple Heart, the American Theater Campaign Ribbon (currently known as the American Campaign Medal), the World War II Victory (shown on this form as the Victory Medal), the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon (currently known as the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal), the Silver Star, and the Distinguished Unit Badge (redesignated in November 1966 as the Presidential Unit Citation).  Item 31 shows he was awarded the Combat Medical Badge.  Item 32 shows he participated in three campaigns.  Item 30 shows his military occupational specialty as surgical technician.  Item 6 shows his organization as the 87th Infantry Division.  Item 36 shows he served in the European Theater of Operations from 14 December 1943 to 28 September 1945.

5.  On 18 July 2001, the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 was corrected to add the Bronze Star Medal based upon his award of the Combat Medical Badge.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides for award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp for service in Germany between 9 May 1945 and       5 May 1955.  It provides for wear of one bronze service star on the appropriate service medal for each credited campaign.

7.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 shows that the 87th Infantry Division was given occupation credit for Germany for the period 2 May - 15 June 1945.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 already shows that he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Medical Badge, the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citation, albeit in some cases under their old designation.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 was corrected in July 2001 to add the Bronze Star Medal (based upon his award of the Combat Medical Badge).

2.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 should be further corrected to add the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp and to show he is authorized to wear three bronze service stars on the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

3.  The applicant's military occupational specialty cannot be determined from the available records.  In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the Board presumes administrative regularity in the entry of surgical technician in item 30 of his WD AGO Form 53-55.

4.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 be corrected to show he was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp and to show he is authorized to wear three bronze service stars on the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__JNS__  __DPH___  __WDP__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___   John N. Slone       _
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002071684	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	2002/09/12	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	PARTIAL GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	100.00	
2.	110.04	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.