PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                 4 August 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999015222

	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. Hubert S. Shaw, Jr.		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred K. McCoy		Chairperson	
	Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright		Member	
	Mr. George D. Paxson		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 correction of his records to show that he was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

3.  The applicant states that there is no mention of him being a prisoner of war and that someone must have forgotten to enter that information about his prisoner of war status in his records.

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in 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 3 April 1942.  He served in the European Theater of Operations from 19 October 1943 to 12 May 1945.  The applicant was honorably discharged on 18 October 1945.

5.  There is no indication on the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) that he was a prisoner of war.

6.  Attached to his application, the applicant submitted letters, dated December 1944 and February 1945, to his next of kin from the Adjutant General of the Army stating that the applicant was a prisoner of war of the German Government.  Documents in the applicant’s records also indicate that he was a prisoner of war from September 1944 to April 1945.

7.  A DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 27 September 1993, shows that the Army Reserve Personnel Center determined the applicant was entitled to the World War II Victory Medal which is not shown on his WD AGO Form 53-55.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the POW Medal.  The regulation states that the POW Medal was authorized on 8 November 1985 and is awarded to individuals who in past armed conflicts were taken prisoner or held captive.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows the applicant was a prisoner of war of the German Government during World War II; therefore the applicant is entitled to award of the Prisoner of War Medal and correction of his records to show this award.  

2.  Evidence of record shows the applicant was awarded the World War II Victory Medal; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

3.  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 by awarding the individual concerned the Prisoner of War Medal and correcting his records to show award of the Prisoner of War Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

FKM_____  INW____  GDP____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Fred K. McCoy_________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999015222	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990804	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19451018	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR 615-365	
DISCHARGE REASON	DEMOBILIZATION	
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	MR HARRELL	
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.