IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 14 June 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160008017 BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 :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: 14 June 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160008017 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 WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation – Honorable Discharge) to show he was a prisoner of war (POW) during World War II (WWII). 2. The applicant states his WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show his POW medal. He spent 3 and a half years in a POW camp. Please check his records for all medals. 3. The applicant provides his WD AGO 53-55, honorable discharge certificate, and National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) WWII POW data file. 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 record is not available for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members' records at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in 1973. It is believed that the applicant's records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, there were sufficient documents available to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. This case is being considered using reconstructed records which primarily consist of the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 and other documents provided by the NPRC. 3. His WD AGO Form 53-55 contains the following pertinent information: * he was inducted in the Army of the United States on 10 March 1941 * his military occupational specialty was 405 (Clerk Typist) * his unit of assignment was the Battery B, 515th Coast Artillery * he served in the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) from 26 September 1941 until his departure enroute to the continental United States (CONUS) on 26 September 1945 * he held the rank/grade of sergeant at the time of separation * he was honorably discharged on 14 June 1946 after completing a total of 5 years, 3 months, and 5 days of active military service * he served a total of 1 year, 1 month, and 23 days in CONUS * he served a total of 4 years, 1 months, and 12 days outside CONUS 4. Item 31 (Military Qualification and Date) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar and the Combat Infantry Badge. 5. Item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he participated in the Philippine Islands and Central Pacific campaigns during WWII. 6. Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded or authorized the WWII Victory Medal, American Defense Service Ribbon with bronze service star, American Theater Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with two bronze service stars, Philippine Defense Ribbon with one bronze service star, Army Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge with two bronze oak leaf clusters, and the WWII Lapel Button. 7. Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the entry “None”. 8. A NARA database query of WWII POWs from 1942 to 1947 shows the applicant was captured by enemy forces and held in a POW status from on or about 7 May 1942 at the Japanese prison camp known as Fukuoka POW camp. The NARA database does not show when he was returned to United States military control, but it is probable that that this happened in September 1945. REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides for the following awards: a. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to members of the armed forces who, after 6 December 1941 and prior to 3 September 1945, have been cited in orders or in a formal certificate for meritorious or exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy. A citation in orders for the Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat Medical Badge awarded in the field during the period of actual combat against the armed enemy is considered as a citation for exemplary conduct in ground combat. b. The POW Medal was authorized on 8 November 1985 and it is awarded to individuals who in past armed conflicts were taken prisoner or held captive. c. The Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation was awarded to certain units of the Armed Forces of the United States in recognition of participation in the war against the Japanese Empire during the periods 7 December 1941 and 10 May 1942, inclusive, and 17 October 1944 to 4 July 1945, inclusive. No more than one Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation will be worn by an individual and no oak leaf cluster or other appurtenance is authorized. 2. DA Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) is published to assist commanders and personnel officers in determining or establishing the eligibility of individual members for campaign participation credit, assault landing credit, unit citation emblems, and occupation credit for World War II and the Korean War. The 515th Antiaircraft Artillery (Coastal Artillery) received a foreign unit award for service from 7 December 1941 to 10 May 1942 and 17 October 1944 to 4 July 1945, based on Department of the Army General Orders (DAGO) Number 47, dated 1950. The code for this award is listed as “56” which designates the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. 3. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separations Documents) establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing discharge documents. In pertinent part, it directs that, for a Soldier with POW documentation, enter "PRISONER OF WAR, (unit of assignment/country) (date of capture and release date)" in the Remarks section. DISCUSSION: 1. The evidence of record shows he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. Based on his award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, he should be awarded or authorized the Bronze Star Medal. It is not listed on his WD AGO Form 53-55. 2. The available evidence shows the applicant was captured by enemy forces and held in a POW status from on or about 7 May 1942 until he was returned to United States military control, which likely happened in September 1945. He is authorized the POW Medal. It is not listed on his WD AGO Form 53-55, nor is the period he spent as a POW. 3. The applicant served in a unit during a period for which the unit was cited for award of the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. It is not listed on his WD AGO Form 53-55. 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. adding to item 33 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 the: * Bronze Star Medal * Prisoner of War Medal * Philippine Presidential Unit Citation b. adding to item 55 (Remarks) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 the entry "PRISONER OF WAR: Battery B, 515th Coastal Artillery, Japan, 7 May 1942 to September 1945" 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. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160008017 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160008017 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2