IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 8 November 2012 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20120005502 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests the Philippine Independence Ribbon be added to his deceased father's, a former service member (FSM), WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, Honorable Discharge) with a date of separation of 3 November 1946. 2. The applicant states as originally promulgated, the ribbon was presented to those members of the United States Armed Forces who were actually serving in the Philippine Islands or Philippine territorial waters on 4 July 1946. If the FSM's WD AGO 53-55 had been originally correct, he would have received this award when he was released from active duty. 3. He states the FSM's original WD AGO 53-55 showed he was authorized the Army Occupation Medal; however a new form that was issued does not indicate this award. 4. The applicant provides no additional evidence in support of his application. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The FSM's complete military records were not available to the Board for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members’ records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. It is believed that his records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, there were sufficient documents for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. 2. His WD AGO 53-55 shows he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 6 December 1944. 3. He arrived in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations (WPTO) on 23 September 1945. 4. He was released from active duty on 3 November 1946. 5. Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) Docket AR20110011899, dated 12 January 2012, corrected the FSM's WD AGO 53-55 by deleting the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and adding the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. A DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214) was issued on 6 March 2012 reflecting this change. 6. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. a. The Philippine Defense Ribbon was awarded for service in the defense of the Philippines from 8 December 1941 to 15 June 1942. b. The Philippine Liberation Ribbon was awarded for service in the liberation of the Philippines from 17 October 1944 to 3 September 1945. c. The Philippine Independence Ribbon is authorized to any recipient of both the Philippine Defense Ribbon and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. There was brief exception to this requirement when Change 2 to Army Regulation 600-65 (Awards), dated 13 January 1953, authorized award of the Philippine Independence Medal if an individual received either the Philippine Defense Ribbon or the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. However, this provision was superseded by Department of the Army Circular 672-1 (Awards), dated 16 March 1955, which again required award of both the Philippine Defense Ribbon and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon to be eligible for award of the Philippine Independence Ribbon. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant contends the Philippine Independence Ribbon was initially issued to all members in the Philippines on 6 July 1946. However, he has provided no official documentation or evidence to support his contention. 2. According to Army Regulations the Philippine Independence Ribbon was authorized for a short time for members who were authorized either the Philippine Defense Ribbon or the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. Since 16 March 1955, a member must be entitled to both the Philippine Defense Ribbon and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon to be entitled to the Philippine Independence Ribbon. 3. The FSM arrived in the WPTO on 23 September 1945. Therefore, he was not authorized either the Philippine Defense Ribbon or the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. Therefore, he is not authorized the Philippine Independence Ribbon. 4. The DD Form 215 previous issued on 6 March 2012, only addresses the change made by ABCMR Docket AR20110011899. It does not list, nor is it intended to list, all of the FSM's awards. This form is to be attached to the original WD AGO 53-55. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ____X____ ___X_____ ___X_____ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. _______ _ __X_____ ___ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20120005502 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20120005502 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1