MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           24 January 2002                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001063159

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mrs. Nancy Amos		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. George D. Paxson		Chairperson	
	Mr. Walter T. Morrison		Member	
	Mr. Richard T. Dunbar		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That his Report of Separation and Honorable Discharge, WD AGO Form 53-55, be corrected to add the Bronze Star Medal.

APPLICANT STATES:  That while a member of the 126th Field Artillery Battalion of the 32d Infantry Division he was attached to an advance party of division artillery personnel that was part of the amphibious assault landing at Aitape, New Guinea.  His group overran a Japanese bunker where he recovered some enemy maps relating to defenses in the area which he turned over to an officer.  In March 1946 he received a letter from the Adjutant General section of General MacArthur’s headquarters in Japan.  The letter acknowledged the 22 April 1944 incident and indicated he was being awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service for having retrieved the maps.  He no longer has this letter but it did state that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.  

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire in 1973.  Information contained herein was obtained from alternate sources.

The applicant enlisted in the National Guard on 12 April 1940.  He entered active duty on 15 October 1940.  He arrived in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations on 14 May 1942 and departed on 15 October 1944.  He was separated on 10 August 1945.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he participated in the New Guinea campaign.

The historical files of the 126th Field Artillery Battalion, 32d Infantry were reviewed at the National Archives, College Park, MD.  The review of the 126th Field Artillery Battalion’s staff duty journal for the period 18 through 23 April 1944
revealed that the advance party departed for the combat area at 7:30 a. m. on   18 April 1944.  There is no further entry concerning the advance party.  A review of the Historical Report of the Aitape Operation for the period 12 to 29 April 1944 revealed that reports were received on 22 April 1944 that the 163d Regimental Combat Team landing had been successful and the beachhead had been established.  Very little enemy opposition had been encountered and the objectives had been taken.  The first wave of the main party landed on 23 April 1944.  The battalion commander, S-3 (operations officer), and S-2 (intelligence officer) went ashore in the first wave and contacted the advance party.  There is no reference to the incident cited by the applicant.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  The historical records of the 126th Field Artillery Battalion, 32d Infantry failed to reveal the incident mentioned by the applicant.  In the absence of the letter from General MacArthur’s headquarters mentioned by the applicant, or other corroborating evidence, there is no evidence of record to show the applicant was awarded or recommended for award of the Bronze Star Medal.

2.  Regrettably, in view of the foregoing there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__gdp___  __wtm___  __rtd___  DENY APPLICATION

		    Carl W. S. Chun
		    Director, Army Board for Correction
    of Military Records

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001063159	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20020124	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0014	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.