BOARD DATE: 21 March 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150016252 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 BOARD DATE: 21 March 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150016252 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: a. deleting from item 33 (Decorations and Citations) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation – Honorable Discharge) "AS PAC THR SER MED W/1 BRONZE STAR," b. adding to item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of his WD AGO Form 53-55, "Air Offensive Japan," and c. adding to item 33 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars and the Navy Presidential Unit Citation, and d. filing these proceedings in the applicant's official military personnel file as confirmation that his unit, Headquarters Battery, 138th Antiaircraft Artillery Group, participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima. ____________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: 21 March 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150016252 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 his records to show he participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima with the Marine Corps. 2. The applicant states, in effect, that his records fail to record his participation in the invasion of Iwo Jima on 18 February 1945. The applicant states he was part of the 3rd Amphibious Force consisting of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions. During his engagement in Iwo Jima, he was assigned to Headquarters Battery, 138th Group, to provide air support to the invasion force. Since there was very little air opposition from the enemy forces, his unit was assigned to ground operations. He further states, he "invaded Iwo Jima D-Day + 4" prior to the capture of Mount Suribachi, and along with the Marines, endured all the battle situations until cessation of hostilities one month later. Recognition of this enormous victory of Iwo Jima, an eight-square mile island, rightly belongs to the Marines. He was happy to participate in the engagement and survive. 3. The applicant provides a self-authored statement, dated 1 June 2015. 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. There was a fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) on 12 July 1973. The fire destroyed the major portion of the records of Army military personnel for the period 1912 through 1959. NPRC believes the applicant’s records were lost or destroyed in that fire. Fortunately, there are alternative records sources that often contain information, which NPRC uses to reconstruct service record data. The majority of the applicant's records are not available for review. However, NPRC was able to provide a copy of the Applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge). This document is sufficient to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. 3. The applicant's record contains a WD AGO Form 53-55, which shows: a. The applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 8 April 1943 and he entered active duty at Allentown, PA on 15 April 1943. b. His organization was listed as Headquarters Battery, 138th Antiaircraft Artillery (AAA) Group. c. His military occupational specialty was 405 (Clerk Typist). d. He served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater from 2 December 1944 through 6 February 1946. e. In item 32 (Battles and Campaigns), his unit received campaign participation credit for the Ryukyus campaign. f. In item 33 (Decorations and Citations), he was awarded or authorized the: * Army Good Conduct Medal * American Campaign Medal * Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze service star * World War II Victory Medal * Army Commendation Medal g. He was honorably discharged on 26 February 1946. REFERENCES: 1. Research revealed an After Action Report (AAR), titled: Headquarters, V Amphibious Corps Landing - Iwo Jima, dated 31 May 1945. This AAR included several General Staff Section Reports. The AAR confirms that Headquarters Battery, 138th AAA Group, was present on Iwo Jima during the Iwo Jima campaign/invasion with the Marine Corps. 2. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) was published to assist commanders and personnel officers in determining or establishing the eligibility of Soldiers for campaign participation credit, assault landing credit, and unit citation badges awarded during WWII. This pamphlet shows his unit, Headquarters Battery, 138th AAA Group, was cited for: a. campaign participation credit for the Air Offensive, Japan during the period 17 April 1942 to 2 September 1945, and b. the Navy Presidential Unit Citation for the period 19-28 February 1945 by Department of the Army General Order Number 73, dated 1948. 3. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states a bronze service star is worn on the appropriate service ribbon, to include the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, for each credited campaign. 4. Department of the Army Technical Manual 12-235 (Enlisted Personnel Discharge Procedures and Preparation of Separation Forms), in effect at the time, prescribed the separation documents prepared for Soldiers upon retirement, discharge, or release from active military service. This technical manual does not provided for adding the specific location of foreign service other than the description provided in item 36 (Service Outside Continental U.S. and Return). DISCUSSION: 1. The evidence of record shows the applicant's unit, Headquarters Battery, 138th AAA Group, was present at Iwo Jima and involved in the Iwo Jima campaign/invasion. 2. During the period of his assignment with Headquarters Battery, 138th AAA Group, the unit received campaign participation credit for the Air Offensive, Japan. Item 32 for his WD AGO Form 53-55 does not list this campaign. Additionally, the entry for his Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal on his WD AGO Form 53-55 only reflects one bronze service star for the Ryukyus campaign, instead of two bronze service stars to reflect participation in the Ryukyus and Air Offensive, Japan campaigns. 3. General Orders cited Headquarters Battery, 138th AAA Group, for award for the the Navy Presidential Unit Citation during the period of the applicant's service with that unit. His WD AGO Form 53-55 does not reflect this unit award. 4. The evidence of record confirms that the applicant's unit, Headquarters Battery, 138th AAA Group, participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima in Japan with the Marine Corps. Department of the Army Technical Manual 12-235, in effect at the time, did not provided for adding the specific location of a battle or invasion such as Iwo Jima on the WD AGO Form 53-55. These proceedings will be filed in his military personnel file as a record of his unit's participation in the invasion of Iwo Jima, which will satisfy his desire to have this service documented in his military records. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150016252 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150016252 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2