PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:        

	BOARD DATE:            12 January 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999029986

	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. Joseph A. Adriance		Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright		Member	
	Mr. Luther L. Santiful		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 the unit listed on his separation documents be corrected. 

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that the incorrect unit, Battery B 566th 
Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) Battalion was listed on his separation documents, when in fact the unit he served with was the 225th AAA Battalion.  He indicates that he served in the 225th for almost 3 years and is very proud of that service,  and he had absolutely no affiliation with the 566th at any time during his service.  He requests that this error be corrected at this time because he is almost 76 and would like to go to his grave knowing that the correct unit is listed in his records.  The applicant enclosed notarized statements from two members who served with him in the 225th, and they support their statements with copies of their separation documents, which verify that their unit was the 225th at the time they were discharged.  

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 9 January 1943 and that he served honorably until his discharge on 16 December 1945.  At the time of this discharge the applicant attained the rank of Technician-4 in military occupation specialty while performing duties as a radio operator.  

5.  The applicant’s War Department (WD) Adjutant General Office (AGO) Form 24 (Service Record) shows that the applicant was assigned to the 225th AAA Battalion on 23 March 1943.  In addition, the service record contains a WD AGO Form 163 (Adjusted Service Rating Card) which shows the applicant was still assigned to the 225th AAA Battalion on the date this form was completed.  

6.  The WD AGO Form 163 documents that the applicant’s service credits subsequent to the cessation of hostilities in Europe.  Although the form is not dated, it does verify that the applicant had completed 21 months of overseas service, which would place the preparation date of the form sometime in November of 1945, just prior to his return to the United States for discharge.

7.  The record also contains a WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation-Honorable Discharge) which was issued to the applicant on 
16 December 1945, at Fort Dix, New Jersey.  This document shows, in block 
6 (Organization) that the applicant was assigned to Battery A of the 566th AAA Battalion on the date of his discharge.  

8.  The applicant was honorably discharged on 16 December 1945 after completing 1 year, 11 months, and 11 days of foreign service and a total of 
2 years, 11 months, and 8 days of active military service.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board was persuaded by the evidence of record and the independent evidence submitted by the applicant that he performed the preponderance of his service during World War II with the 225th AAA Battalion.  Therefore, the Board determined, in the interest of equity and compassion, that it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s military record at this time.  

2.  In view of the 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 that individual concerned was a member of the 225th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion on the date he was discharged and by issuing him corrected separation documents that reflect this correction.  

BOARD VOTE:  

___inw__  __ls ____  ___js____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_____John N. Slone______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999029986	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	2000/01/12	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	1945/12/16	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365	
DISCHARGE REASON	Convenience of the Government-Demobilization	
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  189	110.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.