PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:        

	BOARD DATE:            5 August 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999015050

	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. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Mr. Jessie B. Strickland		Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Mark D. Manning		Chairperson	
	Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		Member	
	Mr. Ernest W. Lutz, Jr.		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, that his report of separation (WD AGO Form 53-55) be corrected to reflect his correct serial number and awards. 

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his serial number was incorrectly listed on his WD AGO Form 53-55 at the time of his separation; however, it was correctly entered on his Honorable Discharge Certificate.  Additionally, his awards are not all entered on the form as well.  In support of his application he submits a copy of his Honorable Discharge Certificate, a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55, and awards of the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device and the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster.

4.  The applicant’s military records were destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel records Center in St. Louis, Missouri.  However, the documents submitted by the applicant with his application show that he was inducted in Buffalo, New York on 10 June 1943 and entered active duty on 24 June 1943.

5.  He served in the European Theater of Operation during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” Device, the Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart with one oak leaf cluster, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, and the American Campaign Medal.  

6.  He continued to serve until he was honorably discharged in the rank of private first class on 30 October 1945.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 reflects a serial number of 39 933 872; however, his Honorable Discharge reflects a serial number of 32 933 872.  Additionally, it does not reflect his awards of the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device, the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, or the American Campaign Medal.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Although the applicant’s records were destroyed in the 1973 fire and there is no evidence available to determine with any degree of certainty which serial number is correct (the one on his discharge certificate or his WD AGO Form    53-55), it is reasonable to presume that the applicant himself knows which is correct.

2.  Inasmuch as he received an honorable discharge, he has nothing to gain by changing his serial number; therefore, it would be in the interest of justice to correct the serial number on the WD AGO Form 53-55 to match the serial number on his discharge certificate. 

3.  Additionally, it would also be appropriate at this time to add the awards of the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device, the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the American Campaign Medal to his records at this time.

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 altering the serial number on his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show that the correct serial number is 32 933 872; and

b.  by showing that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device, the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the American Campaign Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

__ao____  __mm___  __ewl ___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Mark D. Manning____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999015050	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	1999/08/05	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  189 	110.0000/corr 214	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.