PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           13 June 2000      
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999034503

	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. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Elizabeth Buchanon		Chairperson	
	Mr. John H. Kern		Member	
	Ms. Barbara J. Ellis		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 item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) on his discharge document be corrected to show “ONE” and that item 39 (Prior Service) be corrected to show “NONE”.  He also requests issuance of the World War II Victory Medal and the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal. 

3.  The applicant’s request for issuance of service medals and decorations was addressed by separate correspondence to the applicant.

4.  The applicant states that the entries in items 34 and 39 on his discharge document are the result of a typographical error.  He contends, in effect, that he was wounded on one occasion and that he did not have any prior service.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation); orders for award of the Silver Star; and a photograph of several medals, service ribbons, a newspaper article and a letter.   

5.  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 June 1944.  He served as a platoon leader in military occupational specialty (MOS) 651 in the European Theater of Operations from 29 November 1944 through
1 July 1945.  The applicant was separated with an honorable discharge on 
24 December 1945.  He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Silver Star, the Purple Heart and the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal.   

6.  Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) of the discharge document provided by the applicant shows an altered entry of “ONE”, which was originally “NONE”.  Item 39 (Prior Service) of this document also shows an altered entry of “ONE”,  which was originally “NONE”.    

7.  The applicant provided a copy of Headquarters, 8th Infantry Division General Orders Number 59, dated 17 March 1945, which shows the applicant was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action on 25 February 1945.  The citation also indicates that the applicant was wounded in this action. 

8.  War Department Form 372A (Final Payment – Work Sheet) shows the applicant was entitled to combat infantry pay. 

9.  The governing regulation (Enlisted Personnel Discharge Procedures and Preparation of Separation Forms) in effect at the time, directs that the date wounded and theater will be entered in item number 34 (Wounds Received in Action) of the WD AGO Form 53-55.   

10.  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)

11.  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.  This provision of regulation did not become effective until 10 September 1947.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) on the discharge document provided by the applicant shows an altered entry of “ONE”, which was originally “NONE”. 

2.  Evidence of record shows the applicant was wounded in action on 
25 February 1945 in the European Theater of Operations.  Therefore, in accordance with the governing regulation, the applicant is entitled to correction of item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) on his discharge document to show 
“25 February 1945 European Theater of Operations”. 

3.  Item 39 (Prior Service) on the discharge document provided by the applicant shows an altered entry of “ONE”, which was originally “NONE”.

4.  Evidence of record shows the applicant was inducted on 14 June 1944 and honorably discharged on 24 December 1945.  There is no evidence of record available to the Board which shows the applicant had any prior service before his induction on 14 June 1944.  Since the entry “NONE” in item 39 has been altered from “NONE” to “ONE”, it appears the entry was correct at the time of the applicant’s separation from active duty.  Therefore, there is no basis for correction of item 39 at this time.         

5.  Evidence of record shows the applicant served in MOS 651 and received combat infantry pay during World War II.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his military records to show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. 

6.  The applicant is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his military records to show the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. 

7.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:

	a.  by showing the entry “25 February 1945 European Theater of Operations” in item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) on the WD AGO Form 53-55 of individual concerned; and

b.  by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge).

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

EB______  JHK____  BJE_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Elizabeth Buchanon____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999034503	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000613	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19451224	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365  	
DISCHARGE REASON	Convenience of the Government	
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	100.0000	
2.	107.0111	
3.	107.0014	
4.		
5.		
6.