IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 18 April 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150017349 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: 18 April 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150017349 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: a. awarding him the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Bronze Star Medal, based upon award of the Combat Infantryman Badge; b. adding to item 31 (Military Qualification and Date) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 the Combat Infantryman Badge; c. adding to item 32 (Battles and Citations) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 the "Ardennes" and "Central Europe" campaigns; d. deleting from item 33 (Decorations and Citations) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; and e. adding to item 33 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 the: * Bronze Star Medal * European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars * Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp _____________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. IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 18 April 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150017349 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 award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and the Bronze Star Medal (BSM). 2. He states he was told he would receive the CIB and the BSM. He provides a history of his service and injuries from the time he entered the military until the time of his discharge. Additionally, he states he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and refers to his medical problems. He states: * he was a field lineman in the infantry, running and repairing phone lines while under fire * he suffered from a "John Kerry" wound which caused his hand to bleed; but he could not go to the aid station because of his job * while splicing a line at the top of a hill, his team was attacked by mortar shells * a couple of weeks before the end of the war, he got hit by intermittent mortar fire in which the shrapnel cut a two inch piece off his field jacket * during a reconnaissance mission several enemy machine guns opened fire on his squad * he cites several incidents of witnessing fellow comrades being wounded and/or killed * he got pneumonia from laying a wireline in the rain and mud in February or March 1945 * he sprained his foot playing softball in June 1945 * he was later assigned to Japan and while on sick call, it was discovered that his ankle was broken; it was placed in a cast * soon after his discharge, he suffered from nightmares and night sweats * an examination conducted after his discharge in 1959 or 1960 revealed he had nerve damage in both ears 3. The applicant provides his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation – Honorable Discharge) and a self-authored statement. 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 complete 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 the applicant's records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, there were sufficient documents remaining in a reconstructed record for the ABCMR to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. 3. The available evidence shows the applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 11 June 1943 and he entered active duty on 25 June 1943. He served in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) from 8 December 1944 to 8 August 1945; and he was honorably discharged on 12 February 1946. 4. His WD AGO Form 53-55 lists his organization as Headquarters Company, 253rd Infantry Regiment. His military occupational specialty (MOS) is listed as 641 (Field Lineman). 5. Item 31 (Military Qualification and Date) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-1), Orders Number 183, dated 1 August 1943. 6. Item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he participated in the Rhineland campaign. 7. Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the following awards: * American Service Medal * European-African-Middle Eastern (EAME) Campaign Medal * Good Conduct Medal * World War II Victory Medal 8. Item 34 (Wounds) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 contains the entry "None." 9. His Final Payment - Work Sheet shows he received combat infantry pay from 1 to 12 February 1946. REFERENCES: 1. War Department Circular 269-1943 established the CIB and the Expert Infantryman Badge to recognize and provide an incentive to infantrymen. The Expert Infantryman Badge was to be awarded for attainment of certain proficiency standards or by satisfactory performance of duty in action against the enemy. The CIB was awarded for exemplary conduct in action against the enemy. War Department Circular 186-1944 further provided that the CIB was to be awarded only to infantrymen serving with infantry units of brigade, regimental, or smaller size. Additionally, World War II holders of the CIB received a monthly pay supplement known as combat infantry pay and holders of the Expert Infantryman Badge were entitled to expert infantry pay. Therefore, Soldiers had economic as well as intangible reasons to ensure that their records were correct. Thus, pay records are frequently the best available source to verify entitlement to this award. 2. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy and criteria concerning individual military awards. a. The BSM is awarded for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service in military operations against an armed enemy. The BSM 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 CIB or the Combat Medical Badge is considered to be a citation in orders. Therefore, the BSM is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service during World War II. b. A bronze service star is worn on the appropriate service medal, to include the EAME Campaign Medal, for each credited campaign. c. The Army of Occupation Medal (AOM) is authorized for 30 consecutive days of service while assigned to a qualifying area. This award is authorized for service in Germany between 9 May 1945 and 5 May 1955. 3. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) shows in addition to the Rhineland campaign, during the applicant's assignment to the 253rd Infantry Regiment, the unit was also awarded campaign credit for: * Ardennes from 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945 * Central Europe from 22 March 1945 to 11 May 1945 DISCUSSION: 1. The applicant's Final Payment - Work Sheet verifies that he received combat infantry pay. Based on his receipt of this pay, it is reasonable to assume that he was authorized the CIB. 2. Army Regulation 600-8-22 authorizes award of the BSM for individuals awarded the CIB for service during World War II. His WD AGO Form 53-55 does not reflect this BSM. 3. The available military records confirm his assignment to the 253rd Infantry Regiment during the period the unit was cited for award of the AOM with Germany Clasp. 4. His records show he participated in three campaigns during World War II; however, only one campaign is listed. His WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the Ardennes or Central Europe campaigns or the three service stars for wear on his already-awarded EAME Campaign Medal. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150017349 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150017349 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2