BOARD DATE: 3 October 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160002905 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: 3 October 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160002905 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. adding to item 32 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 – "LEYTE" b. deleting from item 33 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 the "ASIATIC PACIFIC SERVICE MEDAL" and adding "ASIATIC PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH ARROWHEAD DEVICE AND 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS." ____________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: 3 October 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160002905 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 correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation – Honorable Discharge) to show he held the grade of "Tech 5" and that he participated in the Leyte campaign. 2. The applicant states he held the special rank of "Tech 5" and he participated in the Leyte campaign in the Philippine Islands. He also states these administrative errors should be corrected as soon as possible. 3. The applicant provides copies of four (4) photographs with captions, page 1 of his WD AGO Form 100 (Separation Qualification Record), and a WD AGO 53-55. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant's failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing. 2. The applicant's military service 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 applicant's records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, there were sufficient documents remaining in a reconstructed record, along with the documents the applicant provides in support of his application, for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. 3. A WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 5 January 1943, entered active service on 12 January 1943, and was honorably discharged on 12 February 1946 for the convenience of the government (demobilization). He had completed 1 year, 9 months, and 9 days of continental service; 1 year, 3 months, and 22 days of foreign service; and he was credited with 3 years, 1 month, and 8 days of total service. It also shows in: * item 3 (Grade): "PFC" (Private First Class) * item 6 (Organization): Parachute Maintenance Company, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment * item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) – * Luzon * New Guinea * item 33 (Decorations and Citations) – * American Service Medal * Asiatic Pacific Service Medal * Army Good Conduct Medal * Philippines Liberation Ribbon * World War II Victory Medal * item 36 (Service Outside Continental United States (CONUS) and Return): * departed CONUS – 5 May 1944 * arrived SWP (Southwest Pacific) – 1 June 1944 * departed SWP – 10 June 1945 * arrived CONUS – 26 August 1945 * item 38 (Highest Grade Held): "T/5" (Technician 5th Grade) * item 56 (Signature of Person Being Separated), the applicant's signature 4. A War Department Form 372A (Final Payment – Work Sheet), prepared for the applicant's "closing pay" with a discharge date of 12 February 1946, shows: * his rank as "PFC" * he arrived in CONUS on 26 August 1945 * his previous organization was at Fort Dix, NJ * he was transferred on 9 February 1946 * he placed his signature on the form 5. In support of the application the applicant provides the following documents. a. Four photographs with captions. One photograph shows an individual (the applicant) in an Army uniform with the caption First Furlough, September 1943, 3rd Avenue, New York City, NY. Three photographs captioned "Leyte, Philippines" that show three individuals and the surrounding area. b. A WD AGO Form 100 that shows the applicant entered active service on 12 January 1943 and he was separated on 12 February 1946 at Fort Dix, NJ. It also shows in: * item 3 (Grade): "PFC" * Military Occupational Assignments – item 10 (Months), item 11 (Grade), item 12 (Military Occupational Specialty) – * 3 (Months), Private, Infantry Basic Training (521) * 30 (Months), "Tec5", Parachute Rigger and Repairman (620) 6. A review of the applicant's available military service records failed to reveal evidence that he was authorized campaign participation credit for the Leyte campaign. REFERENCES: 1. A review of the Enlisted Grade/Rank Structure of the Army for the period of service under review, in pertinent part, shows: * Grade 5 – Corporal (CPL) and Technician 5th Grade (T/5) * Grade 6 – Private First Class (PFC) 2. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register), dated 6 July 1961, lists the unit awards received by units and campaign participation of units serving in World War II. a. During the period of the applicant's assignment to the Parachute Maintenance Company, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, his unit was credited with a combat assault at Tagaytay, Luzon, on 3 February 1945, per War Department General Order Number 109 (1946). b. Table B-1 contains a list of World War II campaigns and it shows that during the applicant's tour in the SWP he participated in the following campaigns: * New Guinea (24 January 1943 - 31 December 1944) * Leyte (17 October 1944 - 1 July 1945) * Luzon (15 December 1944 - 4 July 1945) 3. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning military awards and decorations. The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal is awarded for service in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946. Qualifying service for this award includes permanent assignment in the theater, service in a passenger or a temporary duty status for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or active combat against the enemy and awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps or higher unit showing actual participation in combat. a. The "arrowhead" device will be worn on the appropriate service medal to denote participation in a combat parachute jump, helicopter assault landing, combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing while assigned or attached as a member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission. Individual assault credit is tied directly to the combat assault credit decision for the unit to which the Soldier is assigned. The unit must be credited with a combat assault in order for the Soldier to receive credit for a combat assault and the Soldier must physically exit the aircraft or the watercraft as appropriate. The arrowhead is authorized for wear on the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. b. The bronze service star is worn on the appropriate service ribbon, to include the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, for each credited campaign. DISCUSSION: 1. The applicant contends his WD AGO Form 53-55 should be corrected to show he held the grade of "Tech 5" and that he participated in the Leyte campaign. 2. Records show the applicant entered active duty on 12 January 1943 and he was honorably discharged on 12 February 1946. 3. The evidence of record shows the applicant held the grade of PFC at the time of his discharge. His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows his permanent grade was "PFC" (item 3) and the highest grade he held was "T/5" (item 38). 4. The evidence of record shows he qualified for and was authorized the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and his unit – * was credited with a combat assault at Tagaytay, Luzon, on 3 February 1945 * participated in three campaigns during his service in SWP (which included the Philippine Islands) from 1 June 1944 to 10 June 1945 //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160002905 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160002905 5 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2