IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 10 March 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150007845 BOARD VOTE: ____X_____ ___X____ ___X_____ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 10 March 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150007845 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined that the evidence presented was 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: * issuing orders awarding the FSM the: * Purple Heart for wounds received in action in Italy on 4 March 1945 * Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge * deleting from his WD AGO Form 53-55 the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal * adding to item 32 of this form the entry "Po Valley" * adding to item 33 of this form the: * Silver Star * Purple Heart * Bronze Star Medal * European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars * adding to item 34 of this form the entry "injury to ankle and loss of sight in one eye, 4 March 1945 _____________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. Enclosure 1 IN THE CASE OF BOARD DATE: 10 March 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150007845 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 the Silver Star and his injuries. 2. The applicant states the FSM was awarded the Silver Star and sustained an injury to his ankle and the loss of sight in one eye. The family needs to know about their father. 3. The applicant provides copies of the following: * Battle Casualties report * General Orders (GO) Number 73 * FSM's: * WD AGO Form 53-55 and Honorable Discharge Certificate * Death certificate * Awards and citations and newspaper articles CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The FSM's military records are not available to the Board for review. This case is being considered based on the evidence provided by the applicant. 2. The FSM was inducted into the Army of the United States and entered active duty on 20 October 1943. He held military occupational specialty 746 (automatic rifleman (instructor)). He served in Italy from 13 January through 1 September 1945. 3. The applicant provides copies of: a. A Battle Casualties report for the Northern Apennines and Po Valley for the period from 2 February through 2 May 1945, for Company K, 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment, showing the FSM was wounded in action (WIA) at Cimon Della Tiella on 4 March 1945. The report does not list his injuries. b. GO Number 73, issued by Headquarters, 10th Mountain Division on 10 May 1945, awarding the FSM the Silver Star for gallantry in action in Italy on 3 and 4 March 1945. The orders state he sustained an injury to his ankle and the loss of sight in one eye. 4. The FSM was honorably discharged on 25 March 1946. His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows in: * Item 6 (Organization) – he was assigned to Company K, 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division * Item 31 (Military Qualifications and Date) – Combat Infantryman Badge and Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-1) * Item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) – North Apennines * Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) – the: * Army Good Conduct Medal * Meritorious Unit Award * American Theater Ribbon * European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon * Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) – None * Item 55 (Remarks) – World War II Victory Ribbon 5. The applicant also provided an Awards and Citations article stating the FSM was awarded the Silver Star under GO Number 73 and a newspaper article stating he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and was injured in the right foot in action on 4 March on the Italian Front. REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Award) states: a. The Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained as a result of enemy action. Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify that the wound was the result of hostile action, the wound must have required treatment by medical personnel, and the medical treatment must have been made a matter of official record. b. 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. Therefore, the Bronze Star Medal is awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service during World War II. c. Bronze service stars are worn on the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal to denote campaign participation. 2. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register), a register of unit citations and campaign participation credits for World War II, shows the FSM's unit, 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment, 10th Infantry Division, received the following campaign credit during his period of service from January to September 1945 for: * North Apennines from 10 September 1944 through 4 April 1945 * Po Valley from 5 April through 8 May 1945 DISCUSSION: 1. GO awarded the FSM the Silver Star during his period of military service. His WD AGO Form 53-55 does not list this award. 2. Notwithstanding the absence of orders authorizing or awarding the FSM the Purple Heart, the evidence confirms he was WIA in Italy on 4 March 1945. He is eligible for the Purple Heart and its addition to his WD AGO Form 53-55. 3. Based on his award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, he qualifies for the Bronze Star Medal and its addition to his WD AGO Form 53-55. 4. The FSM's unit was cited for campaign credit for the North Apennines and Po Valley during his period of service. His WD AGO Form 53-55 does not list the Po Valley campaign and the applicable two bronze service stars for his already-awarded European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150007845 Enclosure 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150007845 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1