PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           15 JANUARY 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001063055

	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. Kenneth H. Aucock		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Irene N. Wheewright		Chairperson	
	Mr. Hubert O. Fry, Jr.		Member	
	Mr. Donald P. Hupman, 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 award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan clasp.  

3.  The applicant states that he served on the main island of Japan from August to October 1945, but his separation record does not show his service in Japan.   

4.  The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Information herein was obtained from reconstructed personnel records.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 (Honorable Discharge) shows that he was inducted into the Army on 4 November 1942 and departed for the Pacific Theater of Operations on 1 December of that year.  He had 2 years, 10 months, and 8 days of overseas service, arriving back in the United States on                   8 October 1945.  The applicant served in three campaigns in the Pacific and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.  His discharge form does not show award of the World War II Victory Medal, nor does it show award of bronze service stars for the campaigns in which he participated.  His organization was Headquarters Company, 106th Infantry Regiment.  He was discharged on 19 October 1945. 

6.  The applicant’s final payment worksheet shows that he transferred from his organization, Headquarters Company, 106th Infantry Regiment, on                     27 September 1945, arriving in the United States on  8 October 1945.  

7.  On 31 May 1984 the Reserve Component Personnel and Administrative Center authorized the issuance of the Bronze Star Medal to the applicant based on his award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. 

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides for award of the Bronze Star Medal to each member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after                       6 December 1941 has been cited in orders or awarded a certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat against an armed enemy between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945.  The award of a Combat Infantryman Badge is considered as a citation in orders.

9.  The Army of Occupation Medal is awarded for service for 30 consecutive days for the occupation of Japan between 3 September 1945 and 27 April 1952.  

10.  The Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, DA Pamphlet 672-1, shows that the 106th Infantry Regiment was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal (Japan clasp) for the period 15 September 1945 to                24 October 1945 for its occupation of Okinawa, and from 25 October 1945 to     20 December 1945 for its occupation of Japan.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant is entitled to award of the World War II Victory Medal.  His record should reflect that award.  His record should also reflect award of the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars, one for each campaign.  

2.  The applicant is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal, apparently since issued.  Nonetheless, that award should be reflected in his record.

3.  The applicant’s record shows that he departed his organization on                 27 September 1945.  Since the award period for the Army of Occupation Medal  did not begin until 3 September 1945, he did not have the requisite time to be entitled to award of that medal.  Consequently, he is not entitled to award of the Army of Occupation Medal (Japan clasp).    

4.  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 that the individual concerned was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars. 

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

BOARD VOTE:  

___INW__  __HOF__  __DPH__  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Irene N. Wheelwright____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001063055	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020115	
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.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.