PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:           

	BOARD DATE:                 25 May 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999030154

	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. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Joyce A. Wright		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Elzey J. Arledge, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Ernest W. Lutz, Jr.		Member	
	Mr. Kenneth L. Wright		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 55 (Enlisted Record and Honorable Discharge) be corrected to show that he was awarded the Parachutist Badge.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his WD AGO Form 55 does not show the
Parachutist Badge.  In support of his application he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 55 and a copy of his award certificate for the Parachutist Badge.

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 he entered active duty on 26 May 1942.  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations
from 27 April 1943 to 15 November 1943 and was honorably discharged on 15 December 1943.

5. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 55 shows that he was awarded the
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon with one bronze service star.  His discharge document does not show the Parachutist Badge as an authorized award.

6.  The applicant provided a copy of a diploma, which shows that he completed the Parachutist Course and was rated as a parachutist on 5 December 1942.

7.  The Board noted that the applicant is entitled to the World War II Victory Medal, which is not shown on his discharge document.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, sets forth requirements for award of the basic Parachutist Badge.  Award of the basic Parachutist Badge requires that an individual must have satisfactorily completed the prescribed proficiency tests while assigned or attached to an airborne unit or the Airborne Department of the Infantry School, or have participated in at least one combat parachute jump.

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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows that he completed the Parachutist Course; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show that he was awarded the Parachutist Badge.

2.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant was eligible for award of the World War II Victory Medal.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

3.  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 the individual concerned was awarded the Parachutist Badge and the World War II Victory Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

EJA____  EWL____   KLW____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__ELZEY J. ARLEDGE, JR.___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999030154	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000525	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19431215	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  166		
2.  112		
3.  		
4.  		
5.		
6.