PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           31 July 2003                    
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2003086695

	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. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Gail J. Wire 		Chairperson	
	Ms. Karen A. Heinz 		Member	
	Mr. Robert Duecaster		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, in effect, correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to show award of the Combat Medical Badge and the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Medical Badge).

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that in January 2003 the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri, verified his entitlement to the first award of the Combat Medical Badge and the Bronze Star Medal.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of a letter, dated 8 January 2003, from the National Personnel Records Center; a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55; and platoon orders, dated 3 August 1945, which show he was authorized to wear a bronze service star on the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. 

4.  The applicant’s military records have been lost or destroyed.  This case is being considered using reconstructed records.  The applicant's reconstructed records consist primarily of the WD AGO Form 53-55, limited pay records, and his WD AGO 100 (Separation Qualification Record).

5.  The applicant's reconstructed records show he was inducted on 2 February 1943.  He served as a sanitary technician and medical technician in a medical hospital ship platoon on sea duty from 20 September 1943 to 22 June 1945.  On 8 November 1945, the applicant was honorably discharged. 

6.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55, which was authenticated in his own hand, does not show the Combat Medical Badge or the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Medical Badge) as authorized awards.

7.  There are no orders for the Combat Medical Badge in the available records.

8.  The applicant's War Department Form 372A (Final Payment - Work Sheet) does not show that he received medical badge pay. 

9.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 100 shows that he served as a sanitary technician while a member of a medical ship platoon in the European Theater of Operations, that he worked with malaria control and that he supervised two prisoners of war.  This form also states that the applicant traveled by jeep through parts of North Africa spraying ponds and open culverts with oil to combat malaria and that he checked on sanitary conditions of town garbage and sewage. The WD AGO Form 100 shows that the applicant served as a medical technician wherein he assisted doctors in taking care of wounded and sick military personnel on hospital ships and transports.  The applicant also performed various medical duties as a male nurse.

10.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal as an authorized award.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 also shows that he participated in the Rome-Arno Campaign.  The applicant provided platoon orders which show that he was authorized to wear one bronze service star on the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal for the Rome-Arno Campaign.  

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Medical Badge is awarded to medical department personnel (colonel and below) who are assigned or attached to a medical unit of company or smaller size that is organic to an infantry unit of brigade, regimental or smaller size which is engaged in active ground combat.  Battle participation credit is not sufficient; the infantry unit must have been in contact with the enemy and the soldier must have been personally present and under fire during such ground combat.

12.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also 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 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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board reviewed the National Personnel Records Center letter that verified the applicant's entitlement to the first award of the Combat Medical Badge and the Bronze Star Medal.  However, the applicant's WD AGO Form 100 shows that he served as a sanitary technician while a member of a medical ship platoon in the European Theater of Operations, that he worked with malaria control, and that he served as a medical technician on hospital ships and transports.  There is no evidence available to the Board which shows the applicant was assigned to a medical unit which was organic to an infantry unit engaged in active ground combat as required for award of the Combat Medical Badge during World War II. There is also no evidence that he was awarded or qualified for award of the Combat Medical Badge.  

2.  Although the National Personnel Records Center letter indicated the applicant was entitled to award of the Combat Medical Badge and the Bronze Star Medal, the Board determined that this is insufficient evidence on which to base award of the Combat Medical Badge or the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Medical Badge) in this case.  The National Personnel Records Center letter alone is insufficient as a basis for award of the Combat Medical Badge and the Bronze Star Medal to overcome the lack of substantiating evidence of record.   
3.  Platoon orders show the applicant was authorized to wear one bronze service star on the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.  Therefore, his WD AGO Form 53-55 should be corrected to show these awards.     

4.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the applicant was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one bronze service star.

2.  That so much of the application as pertains to award of the Combat Medical Badge and the Bronze Star Medal be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

GJW___  KAH____  RD______  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_Gail J. Wire_________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003086695	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20030731	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0113	
2.	107.0014	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.