MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           19 March 2002                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2001065714

	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:

	Ms. Shirley L. Powell		Chairperson	
	Mr. Stanley Kelley		Member	
	Mr. Elzey J. Arledge, Jr.		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 discharge documents be corrected to show his organization as Headquarters Detachment, Army Forces Western Pacific.

APPLICANT STATES:  That the entry of 17th Medical Depot Company on his Honorable Discharge Certificate and Report of Separation, WD AGO Form      53-55, is in error.  He provides an undated portion of an order that he informed his Congressman was a copy of his orders for return to the States.

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 was inducted into the Army on 16 September 1942 and entered active service on 30 September 1942.  He arrived in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations on 15 June 1943.  His Separation Qualification Record, WD AGO Form 100, shows that he served 2 months in medical basic training, 5 months as a general clerk, 18 months as a personnel clerk, 8 months as a chief clerk, and   6 months as a first sergeant.  The summary of his military occupations shows that he worked as a first sergeant and chief clerk for 14 months while with the 17th Medical Depot Company.

The applicant departed the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations on                   27 November 1945 and separated on 27 December 1945.  His WD AGO Form 53-55, item 6 shows his organization as the 17th Medical Depot Company.  It also shows he was awarded the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Lapel Button.

On 27 November 2000, the National Personnel Records Center authorized issuance to the applicant of, in addition to the awards already listed on his WD AGO Form 53-55, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars and the World War II Victory Medal.

Technical Manual 12-235, which prescribed the policy and procedures for the preparation and distribution of separation documents during the period in question, stated that the last unit, or similar element to which the individual was assigned, rather than the element of which he was a part while moving to a separation activity, would be entered in item 6 (organization) of the WD AGO Form 53-55.  It also noted that assignments to units for the purpose of transfer from a theater to the United States was considered part of the movement to a separation activity.

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 applicant’s WD AGO Form 100 confirms that his last 14 months had been served as a chief clerk and first sergeant with the 17th Medical Depot Company.
Since he informed his Congressman that the provided supporting evidence was a copy of his orders for return to the States, it appears that the 17th Medical Depot Company was the last unit to which he was assigned and Headquarters Detachment, Army Forces Western Pacific was only the element of which he was a part while moving to a separation activity.  In the absence of evidence to the contrary, it appears that his WD AGO Form 53-55 (and his Honorable Discharge Certificate) are not in error.

2.  There is an administrative error on the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 in that two authorized awards are not listed.

3.  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.

NOTE:  The Army Review Boards Agency, Support Division, will be directed to administratively correct the applicant’s records by amending his WD AGO Form 53-55 to add the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars and the World War II Victory Medal.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__slp___  __sk____  __eja___  DENY APPLICATION

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

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001065714	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20020319	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(DENY)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	100.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.