BOARD DATE: 23 February 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150018118 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: 23 February 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150018118 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. Awarding the FSM the Purple Heart for wounds received on 30 March 1945 and the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) for meritorious service from 10 June 1943 through 30 March 1945; and b. Issuing an Army Review Boards Agency letter or similar statement of service that acknowledges that the former service member was awarded or authorized the following awards and decorations for his service in World War II: * Bronze Star Medal * Purple Heart * Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) * World War II Victory Medal * European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 1 bronze service star and arrowhead * American Campaign Medal * Presidential Unit Citation * Combat Infantryman Badge * Basic Parachutist Badge * Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar ____________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: 23 February 2017 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150018118 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 brother of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests correction of his brother's records to show he was awarded the American Campaign Medal and a marksmanship qualification badge. 2. The applicant states the FSM is authorized the American Campaign Medal and a marksmanship qualification badge of some kind. The FSM served within the continental U.S. for one year and received a combat decoration. The FSM was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), European–African–Middle Eastern (EAME) Campaign Medal with arrowhead and campaign stars, and the Basic Parachutist Badge. The FSM was a paratrooper, so he had to have some kind of marksmanship badge. 3. The applicant provides: * a typed statement, dated 16 September 2015 * proof of his relationship to the FSM * Infantry Replacement Training certificate * U.S. Army Parachute School certificate of training * WD AGO Form 53-1 (Report of Death), dated 4 June 1945 * DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 19 September 2002 * a letter from the Military Awards Branch, U.S. Army Human Resources Command (HRC), dated 4 February 2005 CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant is the brother of the FSM. He provides copies of his mother's and father's death certificates from the Tennessee Department of Public Health, and historical information about the FSM listed on an internet printout. 2. A WD AGO Form 53-1 shows the FSM entered active duty on 10 June 1943. 3. The Infantry Replacement Training Center, Fort McClellan, AL, issued the FSM a certificate of course completion on 1 January 1944. 4. The U.S. Army Parachute School issued the FSM a course completion certificate for parachutist training on 17 November 1944. 5. The FSM was sent overseas to the European Theater of Operations; however, his exact dates of transit cannot be determined by the evidence of record. The FSM was killed in action on 30 March 1945, in the vicinity of Buldern, Germany, during combat operations during World War II (WWII). 6. War Department General Orders 119, dated 1946, awarded the PUC (known as the Distinguished Unit Citation until 3 November 1966) to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, for extraordinary heroism in action on 24 March 1945. 7. The Sky Men, by Kirk B. Ross, tells the story of the men (including the FSM) of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, who entered WWII combat during the Battle of the Bulge. The book includes a historical outline of the FSM's service and shows: a. Company F, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment landed in France on 24 December 1944. They crossed into Belgium 25 December 1944. b. The FSM was assigned to Company F, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, on 14 February 1945 after completing parachutist training. At that time, the unit was committed to combat in the European Theater of Operations. c. Company F, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, returned to France on 11 February 1945 and returned to Belgium 21 March 1945. The unit conducted an airborne landing on Wesel, Germany on 24 March 1945. d. The FSM was killed in action on 30 March 1945, in the vicinity of Buldern, Germany. 8. The FSM's available record is sparse; it does not contain orders that show he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, or CIB. Additionally, his marksmanship proficiency level cannot be determined by the available record. 9. The applicant provides a letter from the Military Awards Branch, HRC, dated 4 February 2005. The letter shows HRC could not verify the FSM's eligibility for award of the American Campaign Medal; however, HRC confirmed the FSM was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the CIB, and the PUC. As noted in the letter, orders for the Bronze Star Medal and CIB were published and forwarded to the applicant; however, these orders were not available for review in this case. REFERENCES: Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. a. 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 to be awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service during World War II. b. The Purple Heart is awarded for a wound sustained in action against an enemy or as a result of hostile action. Substantiating evidence must be provided to verify 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. c. The Army Good Conduct Medal is awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity in active federal military service. There is no right or entitlement to the medal until the commander has approved the award and the award has been announced in permanent orders. Eligibility is as follows: for each 3 years completed on or after 27 Aug 1940, 1 year served entirely during the period 7 December 1941 to 2 March 1946 (for 1st award only). d. The American Campaign Medal is awarded for qualifying service in the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946 under any of the following conditions: (1) On permanent assignment outside the continental limits of the United States. (2) Permanently assigned as a member of a crew of a vessel sailing ocean waters for a period of 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days. (3) Outside the continental limits of the United States in a passenger status or on TDY for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days. (4) In active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the Commanding General of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that the Soldier actually participated in combat. (5) Within the continental limits of the United States for an aggregate period of 1 year. e. The WWII Victory Medal is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946, both dates inclusive. f. The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is awarded for service within the European, African, and Middle Eastern Theaters between 7 December 1941 and 8 November 1945. The arrowhead is authorized for wear on this medal to denote participation in a combat parachute jump, helicopter assault landing, combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing, while assigned or attached as a member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission. g. The War Department Circular 269-1943 established the CIB to recognize and provide an incentive to infantrymen. 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. h. To be eligible for award of the basic Parachutist Badge, an individual must have satisfactorily completed the prescribed proficiency tests while assigned or attached to an airborne unit or the Airborne Department of the Infantry School, or have participated in at least one combat parachute jump as a member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission for which the unit was credited with an airborne assault landing by the theater commander. i. The Marksmanship Qualification Badge is awarded to indicate the degree in which an individual, military, or civilian has qualified in a prescribed record course and an appropriate bar is furnished to denote each weapon with which he or she qualified. Each bar will be attached to the basic badge that indicates the qualification last attained with the respective weapon. Basic qualification badges are of three classes: Expert, Sharpshooter, and Marksman. DISCUSSION: 1. The applicant's request for correction of his brother's record to award the American Campaign Medal and a marksmanship badge was carefully considered. 2. The FSM was killed in action on 30 March 1945, as a result of combat related injuries received while in active combat against the enemy during World War II. He is entitled to the Purple Heart for his mortal wounds; however, his available record does not contain orders that show he was awarded the Purple Heart. 3. HRC confirmed the FSM was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the CIB; however, his available record does not contain orders that show he was awarded this award or badge. Nevertheless, the preponderance of evidence supports correcting the FSM's record to show he was awarded these decorations. 4. WD AGO Form 53-1 shows the FSM entered active service on 10 June 1943 and was killed in action on 30 March 1945. His grade at his time of death was sergeant, which suggests he served honorably and with distinction. The governing regulation allowed for the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) to be awarded to Soldiers who completed at least 1 year of service entirely during the period 7 December 1941 to 2 March 1946. As such, the preponderance of evidence supports awarding the FSM the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) in recognition of his faithful and honorable service. 5. WD AGO Form 53-1 confirms the FSM entered active duty on 10 June 1943. His parachutist training certificate, issued 17 November 1944, shows he was stationed within the United States for over a year. The FSM is eligible for the American Campaign Medal for serving within the continental limits of the United States for an aggregate period of 1 year between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946, and the WWII Victory Medal, which is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946, both dates inclusive. 6. The FSM is eligible for the European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal for service within the European-African, Middle Eastern Theater between 7 December 1941 and 8 November 1945. He served during one period of campaign credit authorizing one bronze service star. In addition, the FSM is authorized the arrowhead for wear on this medal to denote the 24 March 1945 participation in a combat parachute jump while assigned or attached as a member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission. 7. War Department General Order 119, dated 1946, awarded the 2nd Battalion, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment the PUC during a time period in which the FSM was assigned. 8. The U.S. Army Parachute School training certificate, dated 17 November 1944, shows the FSM completed parachutist training and is authorized the Basic Parachutist Badge. 9. There is no record of the FSM's marksmanship qualification results. However, as a matter of equity, it would be appropriate to acknowledge the FSM was an Infantryman. Understandingly, he qualified with at least the minimum level rifle marksmanship before graduating infantry training in 1943. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150017490 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150018118 6 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2