PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:  31 May 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999031111

	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
Ms. Stephanie Thompkins		Director
Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. James E. Vick		Chairperson	
	Mr. John P. Infante		Member	
	Mr. Stanley Kelley		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 that his separation document (WD Form 53-55) and discharge be corrected to show he was a “Rifleman” and not a “Truck Driver”. 

3.  The applicant states that he served as a rifleman upon joining the 103rd Infantry Division and earned the Combat Infantry Badge and Bronze Star Medal for this service.  He further states he never realized that this could be corrected.  He submits a copy of both documents in support of his application.

4.  The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Information herein was obtained from alternate sources and documentation submitted by the applicant which show he was inducted on 24 November 1942 and entered into active service on 5 December 1942.  He was assigned military occupational specialty 345, Truck Driver.

5.  He served in Europe during WWII from 20 October 1944 to 17 November 1945, and he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

6.  His medical hospital data card shows he was wounded in action from a rifle bullet wound.

7.  He was honorably separated on 1 December 1945 for Convenience of the Government – Demobilization.  His arm or service on his WW form 53-55 is shown as “INF”.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s separation document should be corrected to show he was a “Rifleman”.

2.  On the basis of his assignment to the INF, to an Infantry unit and award of the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge, it is apparent the applicant was an infantryman during his overseas service in WWII.

3.  In view of the foregoing it would be appropriate to correct the applicant's records as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing the individual concerned was a “Rifleman” on his separation document. 

BOARD VOTE:  

__JV___  __JI___  __SK___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___James E. Vick_________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999031111	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000531	
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.	111.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.