PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           10 SEPTEMBER 2002                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002073074

	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	
	Mr. Kenneth H. Aucock		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Ms. Barbara J. Ellis		Member	
	Mr. Wiliam D. Barr		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 WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation – Honorable Discharge) be corrected to show that he was wounded in action during World War II. 

3.  The applicant states that his discharge form shows that he was awarded the Purple Heart; however, item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) of that form fails to show that he was wounded in action.  The applicant submits a copy of General Order 23, Headquarters, 20th Engineer Combat Battalion, dated 23 June 1944, which shows that he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action against the enemy on 6 June 1944 in Normandy, France. 

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army on 26 February 1941, served in the European Theater of Operations from November 1942 until mid 1945, participated in eight campaigns, and was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (now the Presidential Unit Citation), the American Defense Service Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 8 bronze service stars and 1 bronze arrowhead, and the Purple Heart.  Item 34 of that form has the word “NONE” entered.  The applicant was discharged on 20 July 1945 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  He had over 4 years and 4 months of service and no time lost. 

5.  The 20th Engineer Combat Battalion was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for its actions on 6 June 1944.  That organization served as an occupation force in Germany from 2 May through 3 June 1945.

6.  On 10 October 1996 the Army Reserve Personnel Center at St. Louis authorized the issuance to the applicant of the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one silver service star, three bronze service stars, and one bronze arrowhead, the World War II Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp, and the Honorable Service Lapel Button for World War II.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  This period is 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Although there is no automatic entitlement to the Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified.  

8.  The American Campaign Medal is awarded for service within the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1945. 

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was wounded in action and was awarded the Purple Heart.  His record should be corrected to show that he was wounded in action on 6 June 1944.

2.  The applicant served his country faithfully and honorably for over four years.  He was issued the Good Conduct Medal and is entitled to that award.  His record should reflect that award.

3.  The applicant has been issued the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Honorable Service Lapel Button for World War II, and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp.  He is entitled to those awards and his record should reflect those awards. 

4.  The applicant is entitled to award of the French Croix de Guerre. 

5.  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 by showing that the individual concerned was wounded in action against the enemy on 6 June 1944 in Normandy, France; that he was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal; the World War II Victory Medal; the American Campaign Medal; the Honorable Service Lapel Button for World War II; the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp and the French Croix de Guerre.

BOARD VOTE:  

__FNE___  __BJE__  __WDB__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Fred N. Eichorn____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002073074	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	2020910	
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.