PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           1 April 2003
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2003086766

	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. Hubert S. Shaw, Jr. 		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas B. Redfern		Member	
	Mr. Thomas E. O'Shaughnessy, 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 correction of his records to show all of the awards and decorations to which he is entitled and to explain the entries for the awards already listed on his discharge document.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he believes that he is entitled to a Bronze Star Medal and a World War II Victory Medal and possibly other awards that are not shown on his discharge document.  In support of his application the applicant provided a copy of this WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation and Honorable Discharge), a copy of page 112 from the history of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, a copy of a notice from the Secretary of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment Association regarding award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, a copy of 508th Parachute Infantry General Orders Number 50, dated 11 August 1944 awarding the Combat Infantryman Badge to unit members for actions during the Normandy Campaign, a copy of the Highlights of the Regimental History, and a listing of the key events of the applicant's service during World War II.

4.  The applicant’s service personnel records were lost or destroyed in a fire at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973.  The records available to the Army Board For Correction of Military Records were provided in part by the applicant and also obtained from alternate sources.  The primary record available to this Board is the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation and Honorable Discharge).  

5.  Records show that he was inducted on 29 September 1942 and that he completed infantry and airborne training.  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 8 January 1944 to 16 November 1945.  A statement by the applicant indicates that, after recovering from his wounds, he served in the 446th Ordnance Heavy Automotive Maintenance Company from November 1944 until he returned to the United States.  He was honorably discharged on 10 December 1945.

6.  Item 31 (Military Qualification and Date) of the applicant's WD AGO Form 
53-55 shows that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and qualified as a “marksman” with the rifle.

7.  Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he was authorized several decorations and awards.  He was awarded the Distinguished Unit Award [now known as the Presidential Unit Citation] based on First U.S. Army General Order Number 26, dated 17 June 1944.  He was awarded a bronze service star to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations Medal based on First U.S. Army Letter, dated 5 February 1945.  He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the American Theater of Operations Medal and the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations Medal.  He was awarded the Purple Heart based on 158th General Hospital General Order Number 9, dated 22 July 1944, for wounds sustained on 2 July 1944 in France.

8.  Based on review of the applicant’s records, the Board determined that the applicant was eligible for correction of his records to show award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, the World War II Victory Medal, the French Fourragere, and three bronze service stars to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations Medal.  These decorations and awards are not shown on the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55.  

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) 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.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, sets forth requirements for award of the basic Parachutist Badge.  Award of the basic Parachutist Badge requires that an individual must have satisfactorily completed the prescribed proficiency tests while assigned or attached to an airborne unit or the Airborne Department of the Infantry School, or have participated in at least one combat parachute jump.

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Army of Occupation Medal is awarded for service of thirty consecutive days at a normal post of duty in a qualifying location.  Personnel at a qualifying location as an inspector, courier, escort, temporary or detached duty are precluded from eligibility.  For award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, qualifying service must have occurred between 9 May 1945 and 5 May 1955 and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal must have been awarded prior to 9 May 1945.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, dated 6 July 1961, shows the 446th Ordnance Heavy Automotive Maintenance Company received occupation credit for the period 2 May 1945 to 4 July 1945.

12.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register), dated 6 July 1961, shows, among other information, campaign credit during World War II.  This document shows the units to which the applicant was assigned during World War II received campaign credit for the Normandy Campaign (6 June 1944-24 July 1944) which is not shown on his WD AGO Form 53-55 and the Rhineland Campaign (15 September 1944-21 March 1945) and Central Europe Campaign (22 March 1945-11 May 1945) which are shown on his discharge document.  

13.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the World War II Victory Medal.  It is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946, both dates inclusive.

14.  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.  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.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, dated 6 July 1961, shows that the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment was cited twice by the French Government for actions on 5-6 June 1944 and for actions during the period 6 to 20 June 1944.  The unit was awarded the French Fourragere based on Department of the Army General Order 43-50.

15.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, authorizes award of a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation or in Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register), dated 6 July 1961.  The regulation further states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate service medal.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant received the Combat Infantryman Badge during World War II; therefore, he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show this decoration.

2.  The applicant completed basic parachutist training; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show award of the Basic Parachutist Badge.

3.  The applicant was assigned to the 446th Ordnance Heavy Automotive Maintenance Company when it was awarded occupation credit for Germany.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.

4.  The applicant's service during World War II qualified him for award of the World War II Victory Medal; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show award of the World War II Victory Medal.

5.  The applicant was a member of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment when it was cited twice by the French Government and awarded the French Fourragere.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show award of the French Fourragere.

6.  The applicant participated in three campaigns during World War II, therefore, he is entitled to three bronze service stars to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations Medal.

7.  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 awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, the World War II Victory Medal, the French Fourragere, and three bronze service stars to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations Medal.  

BOARD VOTE:  

__TEO__  __TBR___  __AAO__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Mr. Arthur A. Omartian_
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003086766	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20030401	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT 	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	MR SCHNEIDER	
ISSUES         1.	107.0000.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.