PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           16 July 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002072492

	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. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Member	
	Mr. Donald P. Hupman, Jr.		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 Bronze Star Medal (BSM) be added to his Report of Separation, WD AGO Form 53-55.

3.  The applicant states that he was issued the BSM in 1989.

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire in 1973.  Information contained herein was obtained from alternate sources.  

5.  The applicant was inducted into the Army on and entered active service on     5 December 1942.  He arrived in the European Theater of Operations on          28 October 1944.  He departed the theater on 22 December 1945 and separated on 8 January 1946.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was assigned to the 19th Armored Infantry Battalion, 14th Armored Division.  It shows he served during three campaigns and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the American Service Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Lapel Button.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides for award of the BSM to members of the armed forces who, after 6 December 1941 and prior to 3 September 1945, have been cited in orders or in a formal certificate for meritorious or exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy.  A citation in orders for the Combat Infantryman Badge or Medical Badge awarded in the field during the period of actual combat against the armed enemy is considered as a citation for exemplary conduct in ground combat.  It provides for wear of a bronze service star on the appropriate service medal for each credited combat campaign.  It provides for award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp for 30 consecutive days at a normal post of duty in Germany between 9 May 1945 and 5 May 1955.

7.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 shows that the 19th Armored Infantry Battalion, 14th Armored Division was given occupation credit for Germany for the period 20 May – 4 September 1945.

8.  On 13 July 1989, the applicant was awarded the BSM based upon award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows the applicant was awarded the BSM based upon award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and met the eligibility criteria for award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp and to wear three bronze service stars on the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal.  These awards should be added to his WD AGO Form 53-55.

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

RECOMMENDATION:

That the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 be amended to add the Bronze Star Medal, 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 Service Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

__FNE__  __MHM__  __DPH__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

					      ___Fred N. Eichorn___
						CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002072492	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	2002/07/16	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	110.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.