PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:          

	BOARD DATE:               29 October 2002
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AR2002075455

	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	
	Ms. Beverly A. Young		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Karol A. Kennedy		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas A. Pagan		Member	
	Ms. Barbara J. Lutz		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 WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to show award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp and the Meritorious Unit Emblem.

3.  The applicant states that he ordered his medals and three awards listed in item 8 (Award Code) on the DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards) are not shown on his discharge document.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55.

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show he was inducted in the Enlisted Reserve Center on 6 July 1943.  He entered active duty on 27 July 1943 and completed training as a surgical technician.  The applicant served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 19 May 1944 to 29 January 1946 and was honorably discharged on 17 February 1946.

5.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp or the Meritorious Unit Emblem as authorized awards. 

6.  Records available to the Board contain a DA Form 1577 prepared by the National Personnel Records Center and dated 27 March 2002.  This document shows that the applicant was issued the Good Conduct Medal, the Meritorious Unit Emblem, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp and the Honorable Service Lapel Button for World War II.  The Meritorious Unit Emblem and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp are not shown on the applicant's discharge document.

7.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) dated 6 July 1961, will show whether or not a World War II unit was authorized occupation credit, thus entitlement to the 
Army of Occupation Medal.  This document shows the applicant’s unit, the 108th Evacuation Hospital, received occupation credit for Germany for the period from 2 May to 19 September 1945.

8.  The Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 does not show that the applicant's unit, the 108th Evacuation Hospital, was cited for award of the Meritorious Unit Emblem.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  While the applicant was assigned to the 108th Evacuation Hospital during World War II, the unit received occupation credit for Germany.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp.

2.  The DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards) issued by the National Personnel Records Center on 27 March 2002 shows the applicant was authorized issuance of the Meritorious Unit Emblem.  However, the Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) does not show that the applicant's unit was cited for award of the Meritorious Unit Emblem during World War II.  

3.  Based on paragraph 2, above, the DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards) issued by the National Personnel Records Center and dated 27 March 2002 should be amended to delete the applicant's entitlement to issuance of the Meritorious Unit Emblem.

4.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:

	a.  by amending the WD AGO Form 53-55 of the individual concerned to show he was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp; and 

	b.  by amending the DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards) issued by the National Personnel Records Center on 27 March 2002 to delete entitlement to issuance of the Meritorious Unit Emblem.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

KAK____  BJL_____  TAP_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Karol A. Kennedy______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002075455	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20021029	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT IN PART	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	Mr. Schneider	
ISSUES         1.	107.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.