MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:         

	BOARD DATE:              3 August 2000                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:      AR1999032453

	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. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mr. W. E. Schnupp		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John N. Slone		Chairperson	
	Mr. Edwin S. Castle		Member	
	Mr. Orville W. Troesch, Jr.		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:  That his separation document (WD AGO Form 53-55), item 32 (Battles and Campaigns), include North Africa and item 33 (Decorations and Citations), include a 5th Bronze Star to the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (EAME).

APPLICANT STATES:  That to go into Sicily you must first go to North Africa.  He says that fact has been left out of his discharge papers.

In support of his request, he has provided a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55, two pages from the book A Soldier’s Story detailing a portion of the campaign in North Africa and a copy of the 1994 edition of the 1st Engineer Special Brigade Association Newsletter.  He contends that he was assigned to a subordinate organization of the 1st Engineer Special Brigade during World War II.  

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center.  Information herein was derived from documents furnished by the applicant.

His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he enlisted on 22 August 1940, and served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater from July 1942 to July 1945 as a hospital orderly.  His organization is listed as Medical Detachment, 25th General Hospital.  He was honorably discharged at demobilization on 9 July 1945 in the grade of private first class.

Item 32 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he participated in the Sicily, Normandy, Northern France and the Naples-Foggia campaigns.  His awards, in item 33, include the EAME with 4 Bronze Stars and the American Defense Service Medal.

Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides in pertinent part that one bronze service star is authorized to be affixed to the EAME for each campaign the individual participates in.

The same regulation lists the designated campaigns that took place in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater during World War II.  This list does not include a North African campaign per se.  Listed campaigns in Africa include Egypt-Libya, Algeria-French Morocco and Tunisia.  All the remaining campaigns took place on the continent of Europe.

The awards regulation also provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded on a selective basis to soldiers who distinguish themselves from among 

their fellow soldiers by their exemplary conduct, efficiency and fidelity throughout a specified period of continuous enlisted active Federal military service.  For first award only, 1 year served entirely during the period 7 December 1941 to 2 March 1946.  The lack of disqualifying comments by a commander qualifies the use of such period toward the award.

The Army of Occupation Medal (Germany) was awarded for service for             30 consecutive days at a normal post of duty while assigned to the Army of Occupation of Germany (exclusive of Berlin) between 9 May 1945 and 5 May 1955.  Service between 9 May and 8 November 1945 would be counted only if the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for service prior to 9 May 1945.

The American Campaign Medal is awarded for service in the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946; and, the World War II Victory Medal for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946.

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.  The applicant has provided no evidence and the available records contain no evidence showing that he participated in one of the designated North African campaigns.  He is therefore, not entitled to a 5th campaign star on his EAME.

2.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, it does appear that he is entitled to other service awards that are not indicated on his WD AGO Form 53-55.  These additional awards are noted below.

3.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request for another campaign star for his EAME.

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

NOTE:  The Army Review Boards Agency Support Division, St. Louis, Missouri will be requested to provided a correction to the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 showing that he is entitled to the following awards, in addition to those already shown on his separation document: the Good Conduct Medal (for the period      22 August 1940 to 9 July 1945), Army of Occupation Medal (Germany), the 

American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__jns____  ___esc__  ___owt __  DENY APPLICATION

		    Carl W. S. Chun
		    Director, Army Board for Correction
    of Military Records

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999032453	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20000803	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR .  .  .  .  .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  107.00		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.