MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           29 December 1999                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999032198

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

	Mr. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Ms. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. George D. Paxson		Chairperson	
	Mr. Curtis L. Greenway		Member	
	Mr. Christopher J. Prosser		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  Correction of his military records to show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Bronze Star Medal.

APPLICANT STATES:  That he served in combat from 22 December 1944 until May 1945.  He contends that based on a recent article in the Stars and Stripes Magazine he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of the front page of Blood and Fire (63rd Infantry Division Association), Volume 51, Number 2, dated May 1999; a copy of page 26 of the Stars and Stripes Magazine, dated March 15-28 1999; a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Honorable Discharge)    

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

The applicant’s military records were destroyed or lost during the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show the applicant was inducted on 
14 October 1942.  He served as a field lineman in military occupational specialty (MOS) 641 in the European Theater of Operations from 8 December 1944 through 2 August 1945.  The applicant was honorably separated on 18 October 1945.  

The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55, which was authenticated in his own hand, does not show the Combat Infantryman Badge or the Bronze Star Medal as authorized awards.

The applicant’s Final Payment Work Sheet does not reflect entitlement to combat infantry pay.

There is no evidence in the available records that the applicant was recommended for or awarded the Bronze Star Medal. 

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)

Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) 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.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  Although the applicant contends that he is entitled to the Combat Infantryman Badge, evidence of record shows that he served in MOS 641 (field lineman) and his Final Payment Work Sheet does not show entitlement to combat infantry pay. Therefore, he is not entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.   

2.  The Board noted the applicant’s contention that he is entitled to the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  However, based on the foregoing, he is not entitled to the Combat Infantryman Badge. 

3.  There is no evidence of record available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows he was recommended for or awarded the Bronze Star Medal.  Therefore, he is not entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal.

4.  In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy the aforementioned requirement.

5.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

GDP____  CLG_____  CJP_____  DENY APPLICATION

						Loren G. Harrell
						Director

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999032198	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	19991229	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19451018	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365 	
DISCHARGE REASON	Convenience of the Government and RR-1 	
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0111	
2.	107.0014	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.