PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:          

	BOARD DATE:               17 September 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AR2002073645

	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. Beverly A. Young		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Elzey J. Arledge 		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas B. Redfern		Member	
	Ms. Karen A. Heinz		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, as the brother of the deceased former service member (FSM), requests that his brother be awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern (EAME) Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars and three bronze arrowheads.

3.  The applicant states that the enclosed DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards) incorrectly shows one bronze service star and one bronze arrowhead to be worn on the EAME Campaign Medal.  He states that the FSM was assigned to Company I of the 18th Infantry Regiment at the time of the North African Invasion.  He also states that the FSM was promoted to corporal, awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal and was reassigned to Company B of the 18th Infantry Regiment where he stayed until he was killed in action (KIA) in Normandy on 9 June 1944.  The applicant further states that the FSM participated in all campaigns and amphibious landings in North Africa, Sicily and Omaha Beach.  In support of his application, the applicant submits a DA Form 1577, dated 13 April 2001; a letter from the 18th Infantry Regiment Association, dated 18 February 2000; a postmarked envelope; a V-mail; a letter from the National Personnel Records Center (NRPC), dated 16 April 2001; a letter to the NRPC, dated 23 April 2001; a copy of a title page and table of contents of the book, Danger Forward, the Story of the First Division in World War II; a Western Union telegram; and a letter addressed to the FSM's mother, dated 31 July 1944.

4.  The FSM's military records were lost or destroyed in the NPRC fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show that the FSM was inducted in the Army on 3 February 1942 and completed infantry training.  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations.

5.  The applicant provided a copy of a Western Union telegram which shows that the FSM was KIA in France on 9 June 1944.

6.  The applicant provided a copy of a DA Form 1577, dated 13 April 2001, which shows that the NPRC in St. Louis, Missouri, determined the FSM was posthumously entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the Presidential Unit Emblem (known as the Distinguished Unit Citation until 3 November 1966), the EAME Campaign Medal with one bronze service star and one bronze arrowhead, the World War II Victory Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Honorable Service Lapel Button.

7.  Records available to the Board contain a Report of Death, dated 2 January 1945.  This document shows that the FSM's place of death and station was the European area.  The FSM's DA Form 1577, dated 13 April 2001, shows that he was only awarded one bronze service star and one bronze arrowhead to be worn on his EAME Campaign Medal.

8.  The FSM's Service Record (WD AGO Form 24) shows he was assigned to Algeria on 8 November 1942 and served in Tunisia from December 1942 to May 1943.  His Service Record also shows that he was authorized battle stars (currently known as bronze service stars) for participation in Algeria-French Morocco, Tunisia, and Sicily.  

9.  The FSM's Service Record shows he arrived in North Africa on 8 November 1942.  This document also shows that he participated in the Battle of Oran, Algeria from 8 to 10 November 1942.

10.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) dated 6 July 1961, shows, among other information, unit awards authorized for units which served during World War II.  This document shows that, at the time of the FSM’s assignment to the 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, that unit received campaign credit for Algeria-French Morocco (8-11 November 1942), Tunisia (17 November 1942-13 May 1943), Sicily (9 July-17 August 1943) and Normandy (6 June-24 July 1944).  

11.  Records available to the Board contain letter orders prepared by the 18th Infantry Regiment and dated 26 June 1945.  These orders show that, as a member of the 18th Infantry Regiment, the FSM was authorized award of the bronze arrowhead to be worn on his EAME Campaign Medal for participation in the assault landing on the coast of France on 6 June 1944.  

12.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) shows that, at the time of the FSM’s assignment to the 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, the unit received credit for assault landings in Oran, North Africa, for the period 8 to 10 November 1942, Scoglitti, Sicily, for the period 9 to 11 July 1943 and Normandy, France, for the period 6 to 7 June 1944 by War Department of the Army General Orders Number 70, dated 1945.

13.  The Board noted that the FSM is entitled to a posthumous award of the French Fourragere.

14.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) shows that the FSM's unit, the 18th Infantry Regiment, was cited for award of the French Fourragere for the periods 1 January to 30 April 1943 and 6 June 1944 by War Department General Orders Number 43-50.

15.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also authorizes a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation and states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate campaign or service medal including the EAME Campaign Medal.  

16.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, for the “arrowhead” to be worn on the appropriate service medal to denote participation in a combat parachute jump, helicopter assault landing, combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing while assigned or attached as a member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission.  The regulation specifies that individual assault credit is tied directly to the combat assault credit decision for the unit to which the soldier is assigned.  The regulation requires that the unit must be credited with a combat assault in order for the soldiers to receive credit for a combat assault and the soldier must physically exit the aircraft or the watercraft as appropriate.  The regulation also specifies that the arrowhead is authorized for wear on the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the EAME Campaign Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.  The regulation further specifies that only one arrowhead will be worn on any ribbon.

17.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides for award of the French Fourragere as an approved foreign unit award.  The French Fourragere may be awarded by the French Government when a unit has been cited twice for award of the French Croix de Guerre.  When a unit is cited twice for the Croix de Guerre, then the colors of the fourragere are red and green.  When a unit is cited four times, the colors of the fourragere are yellow and green.  Award of the fourragere is not automatic and requires a decree by the French Government, and persons who were only in one action are not authorized to wear the fourragere.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The FSM was awarded a posthumous award of the EAME Campaign Medal with one bronze service star.  However, evidence of record shows that the FSM received campaign credit for participation in Algeria-French Morocco, Tunisia, Sicily and Normandy.  Therefore, the FSM is entitled to three additional bronze service stars to be worn on his EAME Campaign Medal and correction of his records to show the EAME Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars.

2.  The FSM was also awarded a bronze arrowhead to be worn on his EAME Campaign Medal.  Evidence of record shows the FSM's unit, the 18th Infantry Regiment, received credit for assault landings in Oran, North Africa; Scoglitti, Sicily; and Normandy, France.  Therefore, his records will be amended to show the EAME Campaign Medal with three bronze arrowheads.

3.  The FSM was awarded the posthumous awards of the Bronze Star Medal, 
the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the Presidential Unit Emblem, 
the World War II Victory Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Honorable Service Lapel Button.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these awards.

4.  While the FSM was assigned to the 18th Infantry Regiment, the unit was cited twice for award of the French Fourragere.  Therefore, his records will be amended to show award of the French Fourragere.

5.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the FSM's records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be amended to show that the FSM was posthumously awarded the EAME Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars and three bronze arrowheads.

2.  That an official certificate be prepared to show the FSM was posthumously awarded the EAME Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars and three bronze arrowheads, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the Presidential Unit Emblem, the World War II Victory Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Honorable Service Lapel Button and the French Fourragere.

BOARD VOTE:  

EJA____  TBR_____  KAH_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Elzey J. Arledge______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002073645	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020917	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT IN PART	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	Mr. Schneider	
ISSUES         1.	107.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.