PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:            

	BOARD DATE:                  23 March 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:          AR1999030144

	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. Shirley L. Powell		Chairperson	
	Mr. Roger Able 		Member	
	Mr. James E. Anderholm		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 that he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).

3.  The applicant states that he was a former Prisoner of War from 18 December 1944 to May 1945.  He also states that he is entitled to the Purple Heart and CIB.

4.  The applicant’s military records were destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show that he enlisted on 18 October 1940 as a heavy machine gunner (605).  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 18 October 1943 to 13 June 1945 and was honorably discharged on 28 September 1945.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the American Defense Service Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars and the Expert Badge with Rifle Bar.  His discharge document does not show the Purple Heart or CIB as authorized awards.

6.  Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 
53-55, which was authenticated in his own hand, shows the entry “None”.

7.  There is no record that the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart.  There also is no indication that he was wounded as a result of hostile action.

8.  There is no indication in the available records which show he was awarded the CIB.  The applicant’s discharge shows that he served as a heavy machine gunner (605) in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations.

9.  A DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 20 September 1988, shows the Army Personnel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, determined the applicant was entitled to the Prisoner of War (POW) Medal.

10.  The Board notes that he is entitled to the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the CIB and is eligible for the World War II Victory Medal, which are not shown on his discharge document.

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as a result of hostile action.  Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify that the wound was the result of hostile action, the wound must have required treatment, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record.

12.  War Department Circular 269-1943 established the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Expert Infantryman Badge to recognize and provide an incentive to infantrymen.  The Expert Infantryman Badge was to be awarded for attainment of certain proficiency standards or by satisfactory performance of duty in action against the enemy.  The Combat Infantryman Badge was awarded for exemplary
conduct in action against the enemy.  War Department Circular 186-1944 further provided that the Combat Infantryman Badge was to be awarded only to infantrymen serving with infantry units of brigade, regimental or smaller size.
Additionally, World War II holders of the Combat Infantryman Badge received a monthly pay supplement known as combat infantry pay and holders of the Expert
Infantryman Badge were entitled to expert infantry pay.  Therefore, soldiers had economic as well as intangible reasons to ensure that their records were correct. Thus, pay records are frequently the best available source to verify entitlement to this award.  The Awards Branch, Total Army Personnel Command, has advised in similar cases that, during World War II, the Combat Infantryman Badge was normally awarded only to enlisted individuals who served in the following positions:

    a.  Light machine gunner (604)
    b.  Heavy machine gunner (605)
    c.  Platoon sergeant (651)
    d.  Squad leader (653)
    e.  Rifleman (745)
    f.  Automatic rifleman (746)
    g.  Heavy weapons NCO (812)
    h.  Gun crewman (864)

13.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides, in pertinent part, that the Bronze Star Medal is awarded for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service in military operations against an armed enemy.  The Bronze Star Medal is authorized for each individual who was cited in orders or awarded a certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945 or whose achievement or service, during that period, was confirmed by documents executed prior to 1 July 1947.  An award of the Combat Infantryman Badge or the Combat Medical Badge is considered to be a citation in orders.  This means, in effect, that the Bronze Star Medal is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service during World War II.

14.  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.  There is no evidence of record available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows he was injured or wounded due to hostile action while serving in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater.  Therefore, he is not entitled to the Purple Heart.

2.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant served as a heavy machine gunner (605) during World War II which qualified him for award of the CIB.  
Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.

3.  The applicant was awarded the POW Medal.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

4.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant is entitled to the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the CIB and was eligible for award of the World War II Victory Medal.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these awards.

5.  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 that the individual concerned was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Prisoner of War Medal, the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and the World War II Victory Medal.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

SLP_____  RA_____  JEA_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Shirley L. Powell__________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999030144	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000323	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19450928	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 635-200	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT/DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  61		
2.  157		
3.  60.		
4.  75		
5.  112		
6.