BOARD DATE: February 16, 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150015473 BOARD VOTE: ___x______ __x_____ __x___ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration BOARD DATE: February 16, 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150015473 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant amendment of the ABCMR's decision in Docket Number AR20080016807, dated 29 January 2009. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding the FSM the Combat Medical Badge for exemplary conduct in action against the enemy on or about 4 January 1945; b. awarding him the Bronze Star Medal based on his award of the Combat Medical Badge; and c. adding to the FSM’s WD AGO Form 53-55 – * Combat Medical Badge * Bronze Star Medal * World War II Victory Medal __________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. BOARD DATE: February 16, 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150015473 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, the daughter of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests reconsideration of the FSM’s previous request for correction of the FSM’s WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation –Honorable Discharge) to show award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM). 2. The applicant states, in effect, the FSM served as a medic during World War II (WWII) and he was shot in battle. He received the Purple Heart for his injuries. The FSM was also awarded the BSM in the field during the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign; however, all of his paperwork was lost until recently. 3. The applicant provides her certificate of birth and the FSM’s: * Certificate of Death * WD AGO Form 53-55 * BSM Certificate * Honorable Discharge Certificate from the Army of the United States CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20080016807 on 29 January 2009. 2. The applicant provides new evidence which was not previously considered and now warrants consideration by the Board. 3. The FSM's complete military records are 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 the FSM's records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, there were sufficient documents remaining in a reconstructed record for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. 4. The FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows: * he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 23 February 1943 and entered active duty on 2 March 1943 * his arm of service was the Medical Department * he was assigned to the Medical Detachment, 104th Infantry * his military occupational specialty was listed as 2736 (Tank Driver) * he served in the European Theater of Operations from 26 February 1944 to 4 March 1945 * he participated in the Northern France, Rhineland, and Ardennes Campaigns * he was awarded the Purple Heart (for wounds received in action on 4 January 1945), Good Conduct Medal, and European African Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon with three bronze service stars * he completed 2 years, 7 months, and 5 days of active service * he was honorably discharged on 27 September 1945 with a certificate of disability under the provisions of Army Regulation 615-361 (Enlisted Men – Discharge – Medical) 5. The applicant provided a BSM Certificate, dated 15 October 1953, showing the FSM was awarded the BSM for meritorious achievement in ground operations against the enemy in the European Theater of Operations during the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign. REFERENCES: Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states: a. 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. The Combat Medical Badge is authorized for award for the following qualifying wars, conflicts, and operations in WWII (7 December 1941 to 3 September 1945). b. The BSM is awarded for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service in military operations against an armed enemy. The BSM 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. Therefore, the BSM is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service during WWII. c. The WWII Victory Medal is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946, both dates inclusive. DISCUSSION: 1. The FSM’s WD AGO 53-55 shows his arm of service was medical and he was assigned to a medical detachment within an infantry division. In addition, he was awarded the Purple Heart for combat injuries sustained on 4 January 1945. Although his MOS is listed as a tank driver on his WD AGO Form 53-55, the applicant contends that the FSM was a medic during the Ardennes Campaign and his area of service is listed as Medical Department on the same document. Based on his award of the Purple Heart and his arm of service, it is reasonable to believe he met the eligibility criteria for the Combat Medical Badge. 2. The FSM’s record is void of BSM orders. The applicant does provide a BSM Certificate issued in 1953. The evidence does not confirm the applicant's statement that the FSM was awarded the BSM in the field. The evidence does indicate, however, that the FSM is eligible for the BSM based on the reasonable conclusion that he would have been eligible for the Combat Medical Badge. 3. The FSM's service also met the criteria for the WWII Victory Medal, which was not entered on his WD AGO Form 53-55. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150015473 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150015473 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2