PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            11 July 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999032427

	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. Deborah L. Brantley		Senior Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond J. Wagner		Chairperson	
	Mr. John Saputo		Member	
	Mr. Roger Able		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, award of the Army of Occupation Medal with “Japan” clasp in order to verify his service in Japan following the conclusion of World War II.  He states that other than some entries in his service medical records there is no evidence on his separation document that he served in Japan following the end of World War II.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty on 17 September 1943 and arrived in the Pacific Theater of Operations in March 1944.  While overseas he was assigned to the 163rd Infantry Regiment and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.  The applicant returned to the United States in January 1946 and on 24 January 1946 was honorably discharged as a result of demobilization.  His Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal reflects only two bronze service stars denoting participation in only two designated campaign periods.

4.  A review of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) confirms the applicant’s unit (163rd Infantry Regiment) participated in three designated campaign periods (Luzon, New Guinea, and Southern Philippines) while he was a member of the organization.  The pamphlet also notes the applicant’s unit was granted occupation credit for Japan during the period 1 October 1945 through 20 January 1946 while the applicant was still a member of the unit.  The unit was also awarded a Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation during his tenure with the organization.

5.  The Army of Occupation Medal was established in 1946 and awarded for 30 consecutive days at a normal post of duty while assigned to specifically designated areas following World War II.  Soldier’s whose units were granted occupation credit for service in Japan during the occupation of Japan were awarded a clasp inscribed “Japan” with their Occupation Medal.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 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 such 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.  Awards of the Bronze Star Medal based on these badges are commonly referred to as conversion awards.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms the applicant is entitled to the Army of Occupation Medal with “Japan” clasp based on his service with the 163rd Infantry Regiment.

2.  The Board also notes that the applicant is entitled to three bronze service stars on his Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, based on his participation in three designated campaign periods, and a Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation.

3.  Based on the applicant’s World War II award of the Combat Infantryman Badge he is also entitled to a Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award.

4.  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:

a.  by awarding the individual concerned the Army of Occupation Medal with “Japan” clasp; 

b.  by awarding him a Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award based on his Combat Infantryman Badge; and 

c.  by showing that he is entitled to three bronze service stars on his Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, and a Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation.

BOARD VOTE:  

___rjw__  ___js___  ____ra__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999032427	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000711	
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.