PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:            8 November 2001
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001062736

	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	
	Mr. Hubert S. Shaw, Jr. 		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn		Chairperson	
	Ms. Barbara J. Ellis		Member	
	Ms. Karen Y. Fletcher		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 Purple Heart.

3.  The applicant states that he was wounded in action in North Africa on 10 July 1943.  

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted on 24 July 1942 and entered active duty on 7 August 1942.  The applicant served as a medical aidman in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 26 December 1942 to 3 June 1944 and was honorably discharged on 20 June 1945.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) does not show award of the Purple Heart in item 33 (Decorations and Citations).  

6.  The applicant’s WD AGO 53-55 shows in item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) the entry “African Theater 10 July 1943.”  The applicant’s citation for award of the Silver Star for gallantry in action on 10 July 1943 states that “despite a painful wound” he administered first aid and assisted in evacuating wounded.  The applicant’s records also contain a WD AGO Form Number 0645 (Battle Casualty Report) which shows the applicant was wounded in North Africa on 10 July 1943.

7.  The Board noted that the applicant may be entitled to other decorations and awards in addition to award of the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the Silver Star shown on his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation). 

8.  The applicant’s records contain a WD AGO Form 0706 (Record of Award of the Infantryman Badge) which is overstamped to show that he was awarded the Combat Medical Badge by Decorations and Awards Branch (Office of the Adjutant General) Letter Order 336, dated 27 April 1945.  Award of this badge is not shown on the applicant’s discharge document.

9.  There also is no indication in the applicant’s records that he received award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Medical Badge.

10.  The applicant’s records show that he served over 16 months of “Continental Service” during his enlistment; however, his discharge document does not show entitlement to the American Campaign Medal.

11.  The applicant’s discharge document also does not show award of the World War II Victory Medal.

12.  There is no indication in the applicant’s personnel records that he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal.  There also is no evidence the applicant was disqualified by his unit commander for award of the Good Conduct Medal and there is no indication of indiscipline in his records.

13.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 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.  

14.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the American Campaign Medal.  This campaign medal is awarded for qualifying service in the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946.  Qualifying service includes permanent assignment outside the continental United States, duty as a crewmember aboard a vessel sailing ocean waters for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or duty outside the continental United States as a passenger or in a temporary duty status for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by a corps commander or higher, or service within the continental United States for an aggregate period of one year.

15.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the World War II Victory Medal.  It is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946, both dates inclusive.

16.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  The regulation states that, after 27 August 1940, three years of qualifying service was required for award of the Good Conduct Medal, but during the World War II era, the first award could be made based on one year of qualifying service provided that service occurred between 7 December 1941 to 2 March 1946.  The current standard for award of the Good Conduct Medal is 3 years of qualifying service, but as little as one year is required for the first award in those cases when the period of service ends with the termination of Federal military service.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows the applicant was wounded in action on 10 July 1943 in North Africa.  Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Purple Heart and correction of is records to show this award.

2.  The applicant was awarded the Combat Medical Badge during World War II, therefore, he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal and correction of his records to show this decoration.

3.  The applicant completed qualifying service for award of the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.  Therefore, the applicant is entitled to these awards and correction of his records to show the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

4.  The applicant is entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 7 August 1942 through 20 June 1945 based on completion of a period of qualifying service of less than three years, but more than one year, ending with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  He is also entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

5.  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 showing the individual concerned was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in action in North Africa on 10 July 1943;

	b.  by showing the individual concerned was awarded Combat Medical Badge;

	c.  by showing the individual concerned was awarded the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Medical Badge;

	d.  by showing the individual concerned was awarded the American Campaign Medal; 

	e.  by showing the individual concerned was awarded the World War II Victory Medal; and 

	f.  by showing the individual concerned was awarded the Good Conduct Medal for the period 7 August 1942 through 20 June 1945.

BOARD VOTE:  

__FNE__  ___BJE__  __KYF___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Mr. Fred N. Eichorn_
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001062736	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20011108	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	MR SCHNEIDER	
ISSUES         1.	107.0000.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.