PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                 24 February 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999026249

	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.  

	Ms. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Celia L. Adolphi		Chairperson	
	Mr. James P. Huber		Member	
	Ms. Margaret V. Thompson		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, correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to show his last unit of assignment as 635 Tank Destroyer Battalion instead of Military Police Escort Guard Company.

3.  The applicant states that his last unit of assignment on his WD AGO 
Form 53-55 is incorrect.  He also states that he was sent to perform the duties of a military policeman for no more than a month.  He further states that after release from the hospital he failed to inform the clerk that he was assigned to the 635th Tank Destroyer Battalion.

4.  The applicant’s military records were destroyed or lost during 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 1 March 1942.  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operation 
between February 1944 and July 1945 and was honorably discharged on 19 October 1945.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 item 6 (Organization) shows his last unit of assignment as Military Police Escort Guard Company.

6.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form No 24 (Service Record) shows that he 
was assigned to Company C and Company D 635th Tank Destroyer Battalion
during World War II.

7.  The Board notes that his WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the World War II Victory Medal and the American Campaign Medal.

8.  Based on regulation, in effect at the time, a service member’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, then the unit shown in item 6 was the unit from which the soldier was separated.  This is an important entry because it assists in locating a soldier’s military records.

9.  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.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, for
award of the American Campaign Medal.  This campaign medal is awarded for qualifying service in the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 
2 March 1946.  Qualifying service includes permanent assignment outside the continental United States, duty as a crewmember aboard a vessel sailing ocean waters for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or duty outside the continental United States as a passenger or in a temporary duty status for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by a corps commander or higher, or service within the continental United States for an aggregate period of one year.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record confirms that the applicant served in the 635th Tank Destroyer Battalion; however, his last unit of assignment was Military Police Escort Guard Company.  Therefore, there is no basis to correct item 
6 (Organization) of his WD AGO Form 53-55.

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

3.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing in item 33 (Decorations and Citations) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 that the individual concerned was awarded the World War II Victory Medal and American Campaign Medal.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

CLA____  JPH_____  MVT____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Celia L. Adolphi______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999026249	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000224	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19451019	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-361	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1. 1021		
2.  46		
3.  		
4.		
5.		
6.