IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 3 November 2015 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150003929 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, the spouse of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests correction of the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation – Honorable Discharge) to show his authorized awards. 2. The applicant states the FSM was issued an Authority to Wear Decorations card that listed the Good Conduct Medal with Bar, American Defense Ribbon, Expert Infantryman Badge, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, and World War II Victory Medal. She states that the FSM passed away on 10 May 2014 and she would like to obtain his medals because the FSM often spoke to their grandson about his service during World War II. 3. The applicant provides copies of their marriage license and the FSM's: * birth certificate * two WD AGO Forms 53-55 * 6SvC Form 118 (Authority to Wear Decorations) * Medicare Health Insurance card * Wisconsin Driver License * Death Certificate CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The FSM's military service 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 portions of the FSM's records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, there are sufficient records for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. 2. A WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the FSM was inducted and entered active service in the Army of the United States on 17 March 1945. He was honorably discharged on 15 November 1945 for the convenience of the government to enlist in the Regular Army. He had completed 6 months and 29 days of continental service; 17 days of foreign service; and he was credited with 7 months and 26 days of total service. It also shows in: * item 3 (Grade): Private * item 4 (Arm or Service): Infantry * item 6 (Organization): Company F, 188th Parachute Infantry Regiment * item 30 (Military Occupational Specialty and Number): * Rifleman, 745 * Noncommissioned Officer, 590 * item 31 (Military Qualification and Date): Rifle M1, 14 August 1945 * item 32 (Battles and Campaigns): None * item 33 (Decorations and Citations): None * item 36 (Service Outside Continental United States (CONUS) and Return): * CONUS – departed 16 October 1945 * Japan – arrived 30 October 1945 * item 55 (Remarks): Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon 3. A WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the FSM enlisted and entered active service in the Regular Army on 16 November 1945. He was honorably discharged on 24 March 1947. He had completed 1 year, 3 months, and 8 days of continental service; 1 month and 1 day of foreign service; and he was credited with 2 years and 7 days of total service. It also shows in: * item 3: Technician Fifth Grade (T/5) * item 4: Engineers * item 6: Headquarters Company, 532nd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment, Fort Ord, CA * item 30: Message Center Clerk, 667 * item 31: Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle (M-1) * item 32: None * item 33: None * item 36: * Japan – departed 3 December 1945 * CONUS – arrived 17 December 1945 4. A WD Form 372A (Final Payment – Work Sheet) for the month of March 1947 shows, in pertinent part, in the block for: * Discharged On: 24 March 1947 * Credits – Expert Infantryman Pay: is blank (no entries) * Soldier's Signature: the FSM's signature 5. In support of the application the applicant provides, in pertinent part, an Authority to Wear Decorations card issued to the FSM that listed (on the reverse side of the card) the Army Good Conduct Medal with Bar, American Defense Ribbon, Expert Infantryman Badge, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, and World War II Victory Medal. 6. A review of the FSM's available military service records failed to reveal any adverse or derogatory information that would have precluded him from being recommended for or awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal (AGCM). 7. A further review of the FSM's available military service records failed to reveal evidence that he was authorized/awarded the American Defense Service Medal or the Expert Infantryman Badge, or that his unit was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (Badge). This review also failed to reveal a DD Form 215 (Correction to Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) showing his WD AGO Form 53-55 was corrected to show any additional authorized awards. 8. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register), dated 6 July 1961, lists the unit awards received by units and campaign participation of units serving in World War II. A review of the pamphlet failed to show any unit awards or campaign participation credit for either the 188th Parachute Infantry Regiment or the 532nd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment during the period of overseas service under review. 9. Army Regulation 600-68 (Good Conduct Medal), in effect at the time, stated the Army Good Conduct Medal was awarded for each 3 years of continuous enlisted active Federal military service completed on or after 27 August 1940 and, after 7 December 1941, completed 1 year of continuous active Federal military service while the United States was at war. The award would not be made to an enlisted man whose records, during the required period of service, disclosed a conviction by any court-martial, or to one whose character or efficiency was rated below "excellent." The fact that an enlisted man was recommended for or received an AGCM or clasp would be noted under "remarks" of the discharge certificate. 10. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning military awards and decorations. a. The American Defense Service Medal is awarded for service between 8 September 1939 and 7 December 1941 under orders to active duty for a period of 12 months or longer. b. The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal is awarded for service in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946. Qualifying service for this award includes permanent assignment in the theater, service in a passenger or a temporary duty status for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or active combat against the enemy and awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps or higher unit showing actual participation in combat. c. The American Campaign Medal is awarded for qualifying service in the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946 and includes, in pertinent part, service within CONUS for an aggregate period of one year. d. The Army of Occupation Medal is awarded for service of 30 consecutive days at a normal post of duty in a qualifying location. 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. e. The World War II Victory Medal is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946, both dates inclusive. f. The Presidential Unit Citation (known as the Distinguished Unit Citation until 3 November 1966) is awarded for extraordinary heroism in action. A unit must display such gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission as would warrant award of the Distinguished Service Cross to an individual. g. The Expert Infantryman Badge requires that an individual must have satisfactorily completed the prescribed proficiency tests while assigned or attached to an infantry unit of at least battalion size. To be eligible for testing and award of the Expert Infantryman Badge, a Soldier must be in an active Army status and must have an infantry or special forces specialty. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. Records show the FSM entered active duty on 17 March 1945 and he was honorably discharged on 24 March 1947. 2. The American Defense Service Medal is awarded for service between 8 September 1939 and 7 December 1941. Thus, the FSM's military records do not support the authorization of this service medal. 3. The evidence of record shows the FSM qualified for the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal based on his service in Japan from 30 October 1945 through 3 December 1945. 4. The Army of Occupation Medal is awarded for service of 30 consecutive days at a normal post of duty in Japan between 3 September 1945 and 27 April 1952. However, 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. The FSM was authorized the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal subsequent to 3 September 1945. Thus, the FSM is not authorized the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp. 5. The FSM qualified for award of the: * American Campaign Medal based on his service within CONUS for an aggregate period of one year * World War II Victory Medal based on his service during World War II 6. The FSM served a period of continuous, honorable active duty enlisted service from 17 March 1945 through 24 March 1947. a. There is no evidence of any disciplinary actions, adverse information, or a commander's disqualification for the first award of the AGCM. b. He was promoted to T/5 with less than 2 years of active duty. c. Based on the available evidence, it would be appropriate at this time to award the FSM the AGCM (1st Award) for the period 17 March 1945 through 24 March 1947. 7. Notwithstanding the entries on the reverse side of the Authority to Wear Decorations card issued to the FSM, there is an insufficient evidentiary basis to correct his records to show the American Defense Service Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, or the Expert Infantryman Badge. 8. Therefore, in view of the foregoing, the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 should be corrected, as recommended below. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ___x___ ____x___ ___x ____ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. awarding him the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) for the period 17 March 1945 through 24 March 1947 (Standard Name Line: T/5 Headquarters Company, 532nd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment, Fort Ord, CA), and b. adding to item 33 of his 24 March 1947 WD AGO Form 53-55 the: * Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) * Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal * American Campaign Medal * World War II Victory Medal 2. The Board further determined that the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief. As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to the American Defense Service Medal, the Expert Infantryman Badge, and the Presidential Unit Citation. 3. The Board wants the applicant and all others to know the sacrifices the former service member made in service to the United States during World War II are deeply appreciated. The applicant and all Americans should be justifiably proud of his service in arms. ___________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) AR20150003929 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150003929 7 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1