PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:                27 April 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999031507

	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. Elizabeth Buchanon		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas A. Pagan		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 award of the Bronze Star Medal.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States) does not show the Bronze Star Medal.  In support of his application he submits a copy of his DD Form 214, DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards) and a copy of his DA Form 638 (Recommendation for Award – Meritorious Achievement or Service) with endorsements.

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 was inducted on 5 September
1951.  He served in Korea and was honorably discharged on 11 June 1953.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show the Bronze Star Medal as an authorized award.

6.  The applicant provided a copy of DA Form 638, which shows that he was formally recommended for the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service on 2 March 1953 by the Commander of Company E, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division.  The recommendation was endorsed by the Commander of the 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, on 9 March 1953, recommending approval to the Commander, 25th Infantry Division.  

7.  On 31 March 1953, an endorsement for the award was prepared by the Assistant Adjutant General to the Commander of Headquarters, US Army Forces, Far East stating that the applicant departed this command for reassignment in the zone of interior.  Although orders are not attached to this correspondence, it appears that the award was being forwarded to the applicant at his current duty assignment in the United States.

8.  A DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 8 May 1999, shows the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri, determined the applicant was entitled to the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

9.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows that the applicant was assigned to a unit which was awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation by Department of the Army General Order Number 41-55.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides in pertinent part, that the Bronze Star Medal is awarded in time of war for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service. As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board notes that the applicant was formally recommended by his company commander for the award of the Bronze Star Medal on 2 March 1953.  The regimental commander recommended approval of this award to the Commanding General of the 25th Infantry Division who was the award approval authority.

2.  The Board also notes that there are no orders available to the Board which authorize award of the Bronze Star Medal to the applicant.

3.  The applicant departed the command for reassignment in the zone of interior before final approval of the award.  Evidence of record indicates that the approved award in all likelihood was forwarded to the applicant at his new duty station.  

4.  At the request of the Board staff, the Awards Branch of the U.S. Total Army Personnel Command searched unit records for the General Orders for the award in question.  No orders were found, but the Awards Branch official stated that, based on available evidence, it appears the award was approved, but was 
lost intransit when it was forwarded to the applicant at his next duty station.

5.  Based on the foregoing, the Board has determined that the award recommendation is sufficient as a basis for award the Bronze Star Medal.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal and correction of his records to show award of the Bronze Star Medal.

6.  The applicant was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these awards.

7.  The applicant was awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

8.  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 Bronze Star Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

BOARD VOTE:  

EB______  TAP____  KLW____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____ELIZABETH BUCHANON_____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999031507	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000427	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19530611	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	DENY, GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  60		
2.  115		
3.  102		
4.		
5.		
6.