IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 13 January 2021 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20200003452 APPLICANT REQUESTS: correction of the date of departure from continental United States (31 January 1945) and arrival in the European Theater of Operations (6 February 1945), during World War II (WWII), to earlier dates in November/early December 1944. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Service) * WD AGO Form 100 (Separation Qualification Record) * Affidavit FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the three-year time frame provided in Title 10, United States Code, section 1552(b); however, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) conducted a substantive review of this case and determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. 2. The applicant states he joined the U.S. Army on 14 August 1944 to serve his country during WWII. He was discharged on 1 May 1946. His records do not accurately reflect his service to our country. His separation record shows that his basic training lasted 3 ¾ months which would be late November/early December 1944. He was sent to Europe as a replacement Soldier immediately following his basic training. There, he served with other American replacement soldiers and the British Army under the command of General Montgomery during the Battle of the Bulge on the Northern Salient. The 6 February 1945 arrival date, purports an arrival date to Europe, which is not accurate. He was treated for frostbite and other injuries beginning December 1944. He was attached to a number of units after his arrival in 1944. An affidavit from his sister in law provides a testimony of when he left for Europe. Although he was treated for frostbite during the Battle of the Bulge, he has been denied compensation for cold injuries since 2006 due to the "February 6, 1945" arrival date. This date is an error. 3. He provides an affidavit from his sister in law who states her sister was married to the applicant on 24 August 1940 and they remained married until her death in December 2008. Her brother-in-law served in the Army during WWII. His basic training was at Camp Robinson near Little Rock, AR. She and her sister moved to AR to be closer to him while he was in basic training. She will always remember her sister watching the trains of deployed Soldiers. She was trying to catch a glimpse of her husband before he left. After his basic training was completed, she remembers that he was shipped directly overseas. He entered the European Theater of Operations in the fall of 1944. 4. The applicant's complete military records are not available for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members' records at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), St. Louis, MO, in 1973. It is believed his records were lost or destroyed in that fire. This case is being considered using the documents he provides and some documents available in a reconstructed record. 5. The applicant's WD AGO 53-55 shows: a. He was inducted into the Army of the United States and entered active duty on 14 August 1944. At the time of separation, he held military occupational specialty 824 (Mess Sergeant) and he was assigned to Company L, 291st, 75th Division b. Item 36 (Service Outside Continental U.S. (CONUS) and Return) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he departed CONUS on 31 January 1945 and arrived in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) on 6 February 1945. He departed the ETO on an unknown date and arrived back in CONUS on 10 March 1946. c. He was honorably separated on 1 May 1946. He completed 7 months and 8 days of continental service and 1 year, 1 month, and 10 days of foreign service, with no time lost. d. The period from 31 January 1945 (departure from CONUS) to 10 March 1946 (arrival back in CONUS) is 1 year, 1 month, and 10 days. e. There is no other documents showing/supporting a different departure date from CONUS and arrival date in the ETO. f. The vast majority of WWII Soldiers (over 99%) went to Europe by troop ship either by ocean liners or huge merchant ships leased by the US Government and Navy troop transport ships. The average voyage from the East Cost to Europe was 7 to 10 days at sea. 6. His WD AGO Form 100 shows: a. In item 10 through 12 (Military Occupational Specialty - Months/Grade/MOS)" * he held grade of private and MOS 521, infantry basic training, for 3 3/4 months, * he held grade of private first class and MOS 745, Rifleman, for 7 months * he held grade of Technician Five and MOS 060, cook, for 4 months * he held grade of staff sergeant and MOS 824, Mess Sergeant for 4 months b. In item 13 (Summary of Military Occupation), he served with the 625th Ordnance Company in the ETO; supervised 10 cooks in the operations of a unit mess hall; prepared menus, requisitioned supplies and supervised the use of supplies on hand. 7. By regulation (War Department Technical Manual 12-236), in effect at the time, the entry in item 36 on the WD AGO Form 53-55 will show service outside CONUS and return in a theater of operations such as the European Theater of Operations (ETO) or Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO). BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that relief was not warranted. The Board carefully considered the applicants request, supporting documents and evidence in the records. The Board considered the applicant’s statement, his military service record and documents provided by the applicant. The Board determined there was insufficient evidence to support the applicant’s request, despite the letters from his sister supporting when she believed he departed the country. The Board tirelessly tried to assist the applicant, but based on regulatory guidance, without the proper orders his ETO would be difficult to change in order to maintain accuracy of his military records. Unfortunately, the Board found no error or injustice and denied relief. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING XXX XXX XX DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. 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. REFERENCES: 1. Title 10, United States 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 ABCMR to excuse an applicant's failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. 2. War Department Technical Manual 12-236 (Preparation of Separation Forms) provides that the appropriate separation form will be prepared for all enlisted personnel separated from the service by reason of discharge, retirement, or release from active duty or transfer to a Reserve Component. It states that item 36 will show service outside CONUS and return in a theater of operations such as the European Theater of Operations (ETO). //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20200003452 5 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1