PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:          

	BOARD DATE:               10 July 2003
	DOCKET NUMBER:      AR2002082978

	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:

	Mr. Roger W. Able		Chairperson	
	Ms. Barbara J. Ellis		Member	
	Mr. Larry C. Bergquist		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 records to show the Aleutian Islands Campaign, the Kwajalein Atoll Campaign, and the Okinawa Campaign.  He also requests correction of his records to show award of the Army of Occupation Medal for Korea.

3.  The applicant states that his discharge document does not show all the battles and campaigns to which he is entitled.  He claims that he joined the 7th Infantry Division in July 1943.  In support of his application, he submitted a VA Form 21-4138 (Statement in Support of Claim) and a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation).

4.  The applicant's military records have been lost or destroyed.  The applicant's reconstructed records show he was inducted into the Army on 18 February 1943 and entered active duty on 25 February 1943.  He arrived in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations on 4 August 1943.  His date of departure is unknown; however, he arrived back in the states on 3 December 1945.  The applicant was honorably discharged on 14 December 1945 after completing 2 years, 4 months, and 8 days of foreign service.  

5.  Item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) on the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he received campaign credit for participation in the Northern Solomons Campaign, the Southern Philippines (Liberation) Campaign, the Luzon Campaign, and the Ryukyus Campaign.

6.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he served with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 17th Infantry Regiment during World War II.

7.  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 the unit to which the applicant was assigned, the 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, received campaign credit for the Aleutian Islands Campaign (3 June 1942 through 24 August 1943); the Eastern Mandates (Ground) (Kwajalein is in the Marshall Islands, otherwise known as the Eastern Mandates) Campaign 
(31 January through 14 June 1944); the Leyte Campaign (17 October 1944 through 1 July 1945), and the Ryukyus Campaign (26 March through 2 July 1945) (Okinawa is in the Ryukyus Islands).

8.  There is no evidence available to the Board which shows the applicant served in Korea.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 does not show that the 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division received occupation credit for Korea.

9.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows entitlement to the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.  His discharge document shows he served in the Ryukyu Islands in Japan.

10.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows award of the Combat Infantryman Badge in item 31 (Military Qualification and Date).

11.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 shows that the 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division was cited for award of the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for actions during the period 17 October 1944 to 4 July 1945 based on Department of the Army General Orders Number 47, dated 1950.

12.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Army of Occupation Medal is awarded for service of thirty consecutive days at a normal post of duty in a qualifying location.  Personnel at a qualifying location as an inspector, courier, escort, temporary or detached duty are precluded from eligibility.  For award of the Army of Occupation Medal for Korea, the service must have occurred between 3 September 1945 and 29 June 1949, inclusive.

13.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides, in pertinent part, that the Army of Occupation Medal is awarded for service in Japan.  Qualifying service in Japan included service in the Japanese home islands, the Ryukyu Islands and the Bonin-Volcano Islands between 3 September 1945 and 27 April 1952.  Service between 3 September 1945 and 2 March 1946 is qualifying only if the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was earned prior to 3 September 1945.

14.  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 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.

15.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 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 Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.  

16.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that a silver service star is authorized in lieu of five bronze service stars.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board considered the applicant's request for correction of his records to show the Aleutian Islands Campaign, the Kwajalein Atoll Campaign and the Okinawa Campaign.

2.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he received campaign credit for the Northern Solomons Campaign, the Southern Philippines (Liberation) Campaign, the Luzon Campaign, and the Ryukyus Campaign.

3.  The Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 shows that the applicant's unit, the 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, received campaign credit for the Aleutian Islands Campaign, the Eastern Mandates (Ground) Campaign, and the Leyte Campaign.  

4.  The Board notes that the Kwajalein Atoll Campaign is the same as the Eastern Mandates Campaign and the Okinawa Campaign is the same as the Ryukyus Campaign.  Therefore, there is no basis for correcting his records to show these campaigns.

5.  The applicant is entitled to correction of his records to show additional campaigns in the Aleutian Islands Campaign, the Eastern Mandates (Ground) Campaign, and the Leyte Campaign.

6.  Based on the foregoing, the applicant participated in a total of seven campaigns in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations.  Therefore, he is entitled to one silver service star and two bronze service stars for wear on his Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and correction of his records to show these awards.

7.  There is no evidence available to the Board which shows the applicant served in Korea.  Therefore, there is no basis for granting his request for award of the Army of Occupation Medal for Korea.

8.  The Board noted that the applicant is eligible for award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan clasp (based on award of the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal prior to 3 September 1945 and qualifying service in the Ryukyus Islands in Japan), the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge) and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation which are not shown on his discharge document.

9.  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 discharge document of the individual concerned to add the entries:  "Aleutian Islands Campaign," "Eastern Mandates (Ground) Campaign," and "Leyte Campaign;" and

	b.  by showing he was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one silver service star and two bronze service stars, the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan clasp, the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge), and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

2.  That so much of the application as it relates to the Kwajalein Atoll Campaign in the Marshall Islands and the Okinawa Campaign be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

RWA____  BJE____  LCB_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Roger W. Able_________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002082978	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20030710 	
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.	100.0000	
2.	107.0067	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.