PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:     

	BOARD DATE:           02 MAY 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002072301

	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. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Mr. Walter T. Morrison		Member	
	Mr. Christopher J. Prosser		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 military records be corrected to reflect award of the Bronze Star Medal.  He states, in effect, that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in recognition of his "exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy during the northern France campaign," but there is no record of the award because his records were destroyed during the 1973 fire in St. Louis.  In support of his request he submits a copy of an unsigned award recommendation and a newspaper photo depicting receipt of the award.

3.  The applicant's records were destroyed as a result of the 1973 fire in St. Louis.  Information contained herein was reconstructed from alternative sources, including documents provided by the applicant.  

4.  The applicant served on active duty between March 1943 and November 1945.  He was assigned to the European Theater of Operations between July 1943 and November 1945.  

5.  A 1947, unsigned document, submitted by the applicant, indicates he was recommended for award of the Bronze Star Medal while a member of Headquarters Special Troops, Marianas Bonins Base Command.  Although there is no documentary evidence available that the award was processed to conclusion, the applicant does provide a 1948 newspaper photo which indicates he was presented the Bronze Star Medal "for exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy during the Northern France Campaign in the European theater of operations" by the commanding general of the Marianas Bonins Base Command.

6.  An additional 1947 document, provided by the applicant, also indicates that in addition to the three awards of the Purple Heart, a Good Conduct Medal, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, already reflected on his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation), he was also awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, World War II Victory Medal, Expert Infantryman Badge, and Marksmanship Qualification Badge with "Carbine" bar, which were not recorded on his separation document.  The applicant's entitlement to the Combat Infantryman Badge is also confirmed by the fact that his final payment voucher indicates he was receiving Combat Infantry Pay prior to his separation from active duty.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 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.  Award of the Bronze Star Medal based on receipt of the Combat Infantry or Combat Medical Badge is commonly referred to as a conversion award.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board is convinced, based on the 1947 award recommendation and 1948 newspaper photo, that the applicant was in fact awarded the Bronze Star Medal for "exemplary conduct" during World War II.  His record should be corrected accordingly.

2.  The evidence also shows that the applicant was entitled to the Combat Infantryman Badge, World War II Victory Medal, Expert Infantryman Badge, and a Marksmanship Qualification Badge with "Carbine" bar.

3.  The Board also concludes that the applicant is entitled to a second Bronze Star Medal, as a conversion award, based on his receipt of the Combat Infantryman Badge during World War II.

4.  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 the individual concerned was awarded the Bronze Star Medal; 

b.  by showing that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, World War II Victory Medal, Expert Infantryman Badge, and a Marksmanship Qualification Badge with "Carbine" bar; and

c.  by awarding him a second Bronze Star Medal, as a conversion award, based on his receipt of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

BOARD VOTE:  

__FNE __  __WTM     __CJP __  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Fred N. Eichorn_____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002072301	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020502	
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.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.