PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                8 July 1999              
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AR1999015540

	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	
	Ms. Beverly A. Young		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. June Hajjar		Chairperson	
	Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.		Member	
	Mr. Roger W. 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 correction of his records to show award of the Bronze Star Medal and to show his place of birth as “Bond, Kentucky” instead of “Booth, Kentucky”.

3.  The applicant states that he was finally awarded the Bronze Star Medal on 22 August 1995.  He also states that his place of birth has always been “Bond, Kentucky” not “Booth, Kentucky”.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of an award certificate for the Bronze Star Medal.

4.  The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Information herein was obtained from alternate sources and show that he initially was inducted in the Enlisted Reserve Corps on 26 May 1943.  He entered active duty on 2 June 1943, completed training as a squad leader and served in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations.  The applicant was discharged from active duty on 28 October 1945.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) does not show the Bronze Star Medal as an authorized award. 

6.  The applicant submitted an award certificate for award of the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in ground combat against the armed enemy during World War II in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations, dated 22 August 1995.

7.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows his place of birth as “Booth, Kentucky”.  There is no evidence available to the Board which shows the applicant’s place of birth as “Bond, Kentucky”.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement during World War II; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

2.  There is no evidence of record, and the applicant has not provided any evidence, which shows that his place of birth is “Bond, Kentucky”; therefore, he is not entitled to correction of his records and his WD AGO Form 53-55 is correct as currently constituted.

3.  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 by showing the individual concerned was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

JH______  RVO____  RWA____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		June Hajjar___________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999015540	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990708 	
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.	107.0014	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.