PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:            11 May 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:    AR1999030829

	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	
	Mr. W. E. Schnupp		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. James M. Alward		Member	
	Mr. Christopher J. Prosser		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 the addition of one Bronze Service Star to his Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, a determination of his entitlement to the American Campaign Medal and the award of the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC).

3.  The applicant states that his Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal should have two Bronze Service Stars instead of one.  He also believes that he is entitled to the American Campaign Medal and the PUC.  He contends that his unit, the 96th Infantry Division, and its attached units were awarded the PUC for the Ryukus Campaign in August 1946.

4.  In support of his request, he has provided a copy of DA Form 1577, Authorization for Issuance of Awards, dated 27 August 1990, showing the awards issued to him by the Army Reserve - Personnel Command (AR-PERSCOM) and a copy of the US Total Army Personnel Command awards web page describing the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.

5.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted on 15 August 1944 and served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations with the 96th Infantry Division from 18 February 1945 to 28 August 1946.  He was honorably discharged at demobilization on 3 November 1946 in the grade of technician     5th grade.

6.  The awards shown on his WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, include the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star, the World War II Victory Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, the Philippine Independence Ribbon, the Honorable Service Lapel Button World War II and the Expert Badge with Rifle Bar.  On 27 August the AR-PERSCOM, in response to his request, determined that in addition to the aforementioned awards, he was also entitled to the Bronze Star Medal (based on the award of the CIB) and the Republic of the Philippines Presidential Unit Citation Badge.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, sets forth Army policy, criteria and administrative instructions concerning military decorations, service medals and service ribbons, combat and special skill badges and tab.  Paragraph 6-7, provides that service stars are authorized for wear on the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal to denote an additional award.

8.  The same regulation shows that there are 24 designated campaigns for the 

Asiatic-Pacific Theater, two of which occurred during the applicant’s assignment there: the Ryukus Campaign from 26 March 1945 to 2 July 1945 and the Ground Combat Campaign from 7 December 1941 to 2 September 1945.

9.  The awards regulation authorizes the American Campaign Medal to be awarded for service in the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and      2 March 1946.

10.  DA Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, lists units which have been awarded campaign, foreign awards and unit citation credit.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows that the applicant was assigned in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during the Ryukus and Ground Combat Campaigns and is therefore, entitled to have two Bronze Service Stars on his Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal rather than the one he now has.

2.  Likewise, his period of service was within that specified for award of the American Campaign Medal and he is entitled to this award also.

3.  However, review of the Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register fails to show that the 96th Infantry Division was awarded the PUC.  Unless and until the applicant can provided documentation to support his request for the PUC, that portion of his request must be denied.

4.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by: 

	a.  showing that the individual concerned was awarded two Bronze Service Stars to his Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal;

	b.  showing that he was awarded the American Campaign Medal; and

	c.  issuing a correction to his WD AGO Form 53-55 showing that he is entitled to the aforementioned awards.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

___rvo __  ___jma__  __cjp ___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		_________Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999030829	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000511	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  107.00		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.