BOARD DATE: 10 January 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150014162 BOARD VOTE: _________ _______ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF _____X___ ___X_____ ___X_____ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration BOARD DATE: 10 January 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150014162 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. The Board determined the evidence presented is 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. adding to item 32 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 the "Leyte" campaign; b. deleting from item 33 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with three bronze service stars; and c. adding to item 33 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 the: * Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with four bronze service stars * Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp * Philippine Presidential Unit Citation 2. The Board further determined 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 Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two bronze service stars. _____________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. BOARD DATE: 10 January 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150014162 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, in effect, correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation – Honorable Discharge) to show in: * Item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) he participated in the Leyte campaign * Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) the: * Asiatic Pacific Theater (APT) Ribbon with four bronze service stars * Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two bronze service stars * Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp 2. He states, in effect, he served during the Leyte campaign between 17 October 1944 and 2 September 1945, which means he earned an additional service star for the Philippine Liberation Ribbon and the APT Ribbon. He adds he was on Okinawa in the Ryukyus before he went to Honshu Island of Japan from 7 October to 23 December 1945. 3. He provides: * WD AGO Form 53-55 * WD AGO Form 100 (Separation Qualification Record) * 1897th Aviation Engineers Battalion booklet * Applicant's correspondence to the National Personnel Record Center and their response CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant's failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing. 2. The applicant's military records are not available to the ABCMR 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 for the ABCMR to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. 3. Records available to the Board show he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 16 July 1943 and entered active duty on 30 July 1943. He served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater from 11 April 1944 until his return to the United States on 2 January 1946, and he was honorably discharged on 14 January 1946. 4. His WD AGO Form 53-55 lists his organization as the 1897th Engineer Aviation Battalion. His military occupational specialty (MOS) is listed as 533 (Demolition Specialist). 5. Item 32 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he participated in the following campaigns: * New Guinea * Southern Philippines Liberation * Ryukyus 6. Item 33 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the following: * APT Ribbon with three bronze service stars * Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one bronze service star * Good Conduct Medal * Meritorious Unit Award * World War II Victory Medal 7. The applicant provided a booklet titled 1897th Aviation Engineers Battalion that provides the history of the battalion. During the applicant's period of foreign service with the unit (11 April 1944 to 2 January 1946) the booklet shows the following: * On 10 April 1944, the battalion departed Oro Bay and arrived at Finschhafen, British New Guinea * On 21 July 1944, the unit arrived at Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea * On 24 October 1944, the unit arrived in Leyte, Philippines * On 2 March 1945, the entire unit moved to north of Puerto Princesa, PI * On 26 June 1945, the unit dropped anchor in Nago Bay off Okinawa REFERENCES: 1. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) established the eligibility of individual service members to receive campaign participation credit, assault landing credit, unit citation emblems, and occupation duty credit for World War II and the Korean War based on an individual’s unit of assignment during a specified period of service. This pamphlet shows that during the period 11 April 1944 to 2 January 1946 the 1897th Aviation Engineers Battalion received campaign credit, a foreign unit award, and occupation credit as follows: * Campaign credit for Leyte, New Guinea, Ryukyus, and Southern Philippines * Philippine Presidential Unit Citation from 17 October 1944 to 4 July 1945, by Department of the Army General Orders Number 47, dated 1950. * Occupation credit for the period 15 September to 19 December 1945, Okinawa and 20 December 1945 to 20 January 1946, Japan 2. Army Regulation 600-8-22 states the Philippine Liberation Ribbon is authorized by Department of the Army Circular 59, dated 8 March 1948. a. The Philippine Liberation Ribbon is awarded for service in the liberation of the Philippines from 17 October 1944 to 3 September 1945, under any of the following conditions: (1) participated in the initial landing operations on Leyte or adjoining islands from 17 October 1944 to 20 October 1944. An individual will be considered as having participated in such operations if he landed on Leyte or adjoining islands, was on a ship in Philippine waters, or was a crewmember of an airplane which flew over Philippine territory during the period; (2) participated in any engagement against the enemy during the campaign on Leyte and adjoining islands; (3) participated in any engagement against the enemy on islands other than those included in subparagraph (2) above. An individual will be considered as having participated in combat if they meet any of the conditions set forth in paragraphs 9-7a(1) and (2); and (4) served in the Philippine Islands or on ships in Philippine waters for not less than 30 days during the period. b. An individual who meets more than one of the conditions set forth in subparagraph a, above is authorized to wear a bronze service star on the ribbon for each additional condition under which he or she qualifies other than that under which he or she is eligible for the initial award of the ribbon. DISCUSSION: 1. The evidence shows while assigned to the1897th Aviation Engineers Battalion, the applicant participated in four campaigns: Leyte, New Guinea, Ryukyus, and Southern Philippines. However, only three of these campaigns are listed on his WD AGO Form 53-55, which also shows only three bronze service stars to be worn with his APT Ribbon. 2. The 1897th Aviation Engineers Battalion booklet shows the battalion arrived in Leyte, Philippines, on 24 October 1944. There is no evidence the unit participated in the initial landing on Leyte or that the applicant met any of the other criteria to qualify for a second bronze service star for wear on his Philippine Liberation Ribbon. 3. Evidence shows he was assigned to the 1897th Aviation Engineers Battalion during a period that coincided with the period for which it was awarded occupation credit for Japan, thus he is authorized the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp. 4. The evidence of record further shows his unit was awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, which is not shown on his WD AGO Form 53-55. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150014162 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150014162 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2