BOARD DATE:	  31 January 2012

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20110015308 


THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE:

1.  Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any).

2.  Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any).


THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant requests correction of the WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation – Honorable Discharge) of her late husband, a former service member (FSM), to show award of the Bronze Star Medal.

2.  The applicant states there is no error, but because of recent changes in Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), the FSM is eligible for award of the Bronze Star Medal because he was awarded of the Combat Infantryman Badge after 6 December 1941.

3.  The applicant provides the FSM's certificate of death, WD AGO Form 53-55, and Honorable Discharge Certificate.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The FSM's complete military records are not available to the Board for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members' records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973.  It is believed that his records were lost or destroyed in that fire.  However, there were sufficient documents remaining in a reconstructed record for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case.

2.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows:

	a.  He was inducted into the Army of the United States on 9 December 1943 and entered active duty on 30 December 1943.
	b.  He departed the continental United States (CONUS) on 15 November 1944 and he arrived in the European-African-Middle Eastern (EAME) theater of operations (ETO) on 26 November 1944.  He departed the ETO on 24 April 1946 and arrived in CONUS on 5 May 1946.

	c.  He was honorably discharged on 1 May 1946.

3.  Item 31 (Military Qualifications and Date) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge on 11 March 1945.

4.  Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the World War II Victory Medal, EAME Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars, Army of Occupation Ribbon (Germany), Army Good Conduct Medal, and two overseas service bars.

5.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards.  It states the Bronze Star Medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who, after 6 December 1941 and prior to 3 September 1945, have been cited in orders or in a formal certificate for meritorious or exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy.  A citation in orders for the Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat Medical Badge awarded in the field during the period of actual combat against the armed enemy is considered as a citation for exemplary conduct in ground combat.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge on 11 March 1945.  Based on the FSM's award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, he should be awarded the Bronze Star Medal and his WD AGO Form 53-55 should be corrected to show this award.

2.  In view of the above, the applicant's request should be approved.

BOARD VOTE:

___x__  ___x_____  ___x_____  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION
BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by awarding the FSM the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and adding the Bronze Star Medal to item 33 of the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55.



      __________x______________
                 CHAIRPERSON
      
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20110015308



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20110015308



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