PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                 16 September 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:         AR1998013382

	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. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Ms. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Melinda M. Darby		Chairperson	
	Ms. Sherri V. Ward		Member	
	Mr. Van B. Cunningham		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.  The applicant requests, in effect, that his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) be corrected to show all awards and decorations to which he is entitled for his service with Company M, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division and that item 11 (Place of Birth) of his WD AGO Form 53-55
be corrected to show his POB as Bozrah, Connecticut instead of Borab, Connecticut.

3.  The applicant states that his current record does not show his assignment with Company M, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, which was prior to his final assignment with Company A, 794 Military Police Battalion.  He also states that he is entitled to the following additional awards of the CIB, Bronze Star Medal
and three additional bronze service stars for his participation in the Rhineland Campaign.  In support of his application he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 and a copy of his Abstract Record of Hospitalization.  

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show that he was inducted on 13 June 1942 and served as a squad leader.  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 8 November 1942 to 26 September 1945 and was honorably discharged on 9 October 1945.  

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon with five bronze service stars.  His 
discharge document does not show the CIB or three additional bronze service stars.

6.  The applicant’s Abstract Record of Hospitalization shows the applicant was assigned to the 60th Infantry, 9th Division during World War II.  However, his WD AGO 53-55 shows he was assigned to Company A, 794th Military Police Battalion at the time of his discharge from the Army.

7.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form No 221 (Report of Induction of Selective Service Man), which was authenticated in his own hand, show his place of birthplace as Bozrah, Connecticut.

8.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Medal and participated in the Algeria-French-Morocco, Tunisia, Sicily, Northern France and Rhineland Campaigns.  The Board also notes that he is entitled to the Normandy Campaign, which
occurred from 6 June 1944 to 24 July 1944, the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign
from 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945 and the Central Europe, which occurred from 22 March to 11 May 1945 and which are not shown on his WD AGO Form 53-55.
9.  The applicant’s records contain a DD Form 215 (Correction to WD AGO Form 53-55) dated 8 September 1998, which amended his WD AGO 53-55, to show award of the Bronze Star Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp and the CIB and deleted the entry “Bronze Star” in item 33 (Decorations and Citations) of his WD AGO Form 53-55.  As a result these awards are not discussed any further.

10.  The Board notes that he is entitled to the World War II Victory Medal and which is not shown on his discharge document.

11.  Based on regulation, in effect at the time, the applicant’s unit of assignment at the time of his separation from the service was entered in Item 6 (Organization) of the WD AGO Form 53-55.  The unit shown in item 6 was not necessarily the same unit with which the applicant served during World War II.  If the service member was transferred to a unit at a separation center for the purpose of discharge processing, the unit shown in item 6 was, therefore, the unit from which the soldier was separated and is an important entry because it assists in the search for a soldier’s military records.

12.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows the applicant’s unit
(60th Infantry Regimen, 9th Infantry Division) was awarded the Belgian Fourragere for the period 3 September 1944 to 13 September 1944 and from 20 December 1944 to 26 January 1945 by Department of the Army General Orders 43-50.

13.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, provides, in pertinent part, that the European-
African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is awarded for service within the European African-Middle Eastern Theater between 7 December 1941 and 8 November 1945 for any service member in a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 consecutive days, and in active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps or higher unit or independent force showing that he actually participated in combat.  

14. Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, authorizes award of a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation or in item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of his WD AGO 53-55.
The Regulation also states authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate service or campaign medal and that one silver service star will be awarded in lieu of five bronze service stars.

15.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the World War II Victory Medal.  It is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946, both dates inclusive.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record confirms the applicant served in Company M, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division during his service in World War II; however, at the time of his separation from the Army, his unit was Company A, 794 Military Police Battalion.

2.  Evidence of record show his birthplace as Bozrah, Connecticut instead of Borab, Connecticut.  The Board determined that his WD AGO Form 53-55 was prepared with an error.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of item11 (Place of Birth) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show the entry” Bozrah, Conn” instead of the entry “Borab, Conn”.

3.  The applicant served in the Normandy, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe 
Campaigns.  Therefore, he is entitled to three additional bronze service stars for
a total of one silver service star and three bronze service stars to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon and is entitled to correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show this award.

4.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant was eligible for award of the World War II Victory Medal and was awarded the Belgian Fourragere; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these awards.

5.  In view of 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 in item 11 (Place of Birth) the entry “Bozrah, Conn” and in item
33 (Decoration and Citations) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 that he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon with one silver service star and three bronze service stars, the World War II Victory Medal and the Belgian Fourragere.

BOARD VOTE:  

MMD____  SVW____  VBC____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Melinda M. Darby______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1998013382	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990916	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19451009	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT 	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1. CIB		
2. 		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.