PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           23 SEPTEMBER 2003                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2003090966

	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:

	Ms. Jennifer L. Prater		Chairperson	
	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		Member	
	Mr. Patrick H. McGann, 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.  In effect, the applicant requests award of the Purple Heart and any other awards to which he is entitled. 

3.  The applicant states that he was wounded in Italy in January 1944.  He was with the 67th AAA (anti-aircraft artillery) Battalion until the end of the war, and received the French Croix de Guerre.  He then transferred to the 451st AAA.  He was a member of the occupation force until the first part of November 1945.

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

5.  The applicant was inducted into the Army on 22 July 1942.  He served in the European Theater of Operations during World War II from January 1943 to late October 1945, participating in six campaigns.  He was discharged at Fort Dix, New Jersey on 12 November 1945.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) shows his organization as Battery A, 451st AAA Battalion.  It shows that he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal. 

6.  In a 4 February (1944) telegram to the applicant's mother, The Adjutant General informed her that her son was slightly wounded in action on 19 January in Italy.  On 13 March 1944 that official informed the applicant's mother that he was returned to duty.  

7.  Information from the hospital admission cards created by the Office of The Surgeon General show that the applicant was admitted to a hospital in Italy in January 1944, and that he was a battle casualty, having been wounded in the wrist.

8.  The Army of Occupation Medal is awarded for service in certain overseas areas between 9 May 1945 and 5 May 1955.  Soldiers who served in the European Theater during the occupation of Europe will wear the clasp inscribed "Germany."    

9.  The Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register shows that the 67th AAA Battalion was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for its actions during the war.  That register also shows that the 451st AAA Battalion was awarded the Belgian Fourragere for its actions from 17 November to                 14 December 1944 and from 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was wounded in action on 19 January 1944.  He is entitled to award of the Purple Heart.
2.  The applicant is entitled to award of the Army of Occupation Medal with "Germany" clasp.  He is entitled to award of the World War II Victory Medal.

3.  Although there is no record to show that the applicant was a member of the 67th AAA Battalion during the war, there is no reason to doubt otherwise.  He indicated that he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre.  To believe otherwise, would require that the Board award the applicant the Belgian Fourragere because of his assignment to the 451st, an assignment which the applicant himself stated did not occur until the end of the war.  Consequently, it would be appropriate to award the applicant the French Croix de Guerre. 

4.  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 Purple Heart, the Army of Occupation Medal with "Germany" clasp, the World War II Victory Medal, and the French Croix de Guerre. 

BOARD VOTE:  

__JLP  __  ___AAO    __PHM__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Jennifer L. Prater______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2003090966	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20030923	
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.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.