PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:           

	BOARD DATE:               14 January 2003
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AR2002077587

	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. Margaret K. Patterson		Chairperson	
	Ms. Jennifer L. Prater		Member	
	Ms. Mae M. Bullock		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 he received credit for participation in the Anzio campaign.

3.  The applicant states that he did not receive credit or a “bronze battle star” for the battle at Anzio.  The applicant submitted a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 in support of his application.

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 entered active duty on 19 February 1943 and completed training as a medical noncommissioned officer.  He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 25 June 1943 through 22 October 1945.  The applicant was honorably discharged on 9 November 1945.

5.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the Naples-Foggia Campaign, the Rome-Arno Campaign, the Northern Apennines Campaign and the Po Valley Campaign in item 32 (Battles and Campaigns).  

6.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) dated 6 July 1961, shows, among other information, campaign credit during World War II.  This document shows that, at the time of the applicant’s assignment to Medical Detachment, 135th Infantry, 34th Infantry Division, the unit received campaign credit for Anzio (22 January to 24 May 1944).  

7.  The Board noted that the applicant is entitled to award of the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one silver service star, the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the American Campaign Medal which are not shown on his discharge document.

8.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal as an authorized award.

9.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge during World War II.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also authorizes a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation and states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate campaign or service medal including the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.  A silver service star is authorized in lieu of five bronze service stars.

11.  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 such 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.

12.  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.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he received campaign credit for participation in Naples-Foggia, the Rome-Arno, Northern and Po Valley.  However, the Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 shows the applicant's unit also received credit for participation in the Anzio campaign.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show the entry "Anzio" in item 32 (Battles and Campaigns).

2.  Based on the applicant's participation in five campaigns during World War II, he is entitled to one silver service star to be affixed to his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one silver service star (in lieu of five bronze service stars).

3.  The applicant received award of the Combat Infantryman Badge during World War II.  Therefore, he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal based on his award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

4.  The applicant served a period of qualifying service for award of the American Campaign Medal.  Therefore, his WD AGO Form 53-55 will be amended 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 adding the entry "Anzio" to item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) on the WD AGO Form 53-55 of the individual concerned; and

b.  by showing he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one silver service star, the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge), and the American Campaign Medal.

BOARD VOTE:  

MKP_____  JLP____  MMB____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Margaret K. Patterson_
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002077587	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20030114	
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.	100.0000	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.