IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 22 August 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160014935 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 IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 22 August 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160014935 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 (list corrections in this paragraph, this paragraph with lettered subparagraphs or in a series of numbered paragraphs). * adding to item 33 (Decorations and Citations) of his WD AGO Form 53-53 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation – Honorable Discharge Certificate) the American Theater Ribbon and Philippine Presidential Unit Citation * adding to item 36 (Service Outside Continental U.S. and Return) of this form the entries: * Australia – Date of Arrival 14 November 1943 and Date of Departure 5 November 1944 * Philippines – Date of Arrival 28 November 1944 and Date of Departure 3 August 1945 * Ie Shima, Ryukyu Islands – Date of Arrival 17 August 1945 and Date of Departure 10 December 1945 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 correction of item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show campaign credit for Ie Shima, (Japan) Ryukyu Islands. ___________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: 22 August 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160014935 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 item 36 (Service Outside Continental U.S. and Return) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation – Honorable Discharge) to show his service on Ie Shima, Japan, from 11 August to 10 December 1945 or an additional entry under item 32 (Battles and Campaigns). 2. The applicant states, in effect, his WD AGO Form 53-55 is incomplete. He is 92 years old and currently it seems to be more important to him. He should have done this years ago, but his grandson said he should seek the addition to his discharge. The 1820th Ordnance did not return to the U.S. as a complete unit due to the point system. 3. The applicant provides his WD AGO Form 53-55, Honorable Discharge Certificate, and a photograph. 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 Board 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 in a reconstructed record and provided by him for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. 3. His available records contain the following: a. A WD AGO Form 53-55 that shows he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 11 February 1943 and entered active duty on 18 February 1943. The form also shows in: * Item 6 (Organization) – 1820th Ordnance Supply and Maintenance Company, Aviation * Item 7 (Date of Separation) – 11 January 1946 * Item 30 (Military Occupational Specialty) – Machinist - 114 * Item 32 (Military Qualification and Rate) – Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-1), Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Bayonet and Carbine Bars, and Driver and Mechanic Badge with Driver Bar * Item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) – New Guinea, South Philippines (Liberation), and Luzon * Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) – Army Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Medal with one bronze service star, and the World War II (WWII) Victory Ribbon * Item 36 (Service Outside Continental U.S. and Return) – he: * arrived in Australia on 14 November 1943 and departed on 10 December 1945 * arrived in the U.S. on 26 December 1945 * Item 37 (Total Length of Service) – 7 months and 19 days of continental service and 2 years and 2 months of foreign service * Item 55 (Remarks) – Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII b. A WD AGO Form 24-3 (Immunization Register) showing he: * Left Sydney, Australia on 14 November 1943 * Arrived in Brisbane, Australia on 17 November 1943 * Left Brisbane Australia on 15 January 1944 * Arrived in New Guinea on 25 January 1944 * Arrived in Saidor, New Guinea on 18 February 1944 * Left Saidor, New Guinea on 5 November 1944 * Arrived in Leyte, Philippine Islands on 28 November 1944 * Left Leyte, Philippine Islands on 10 April 1945 * Arrived at Clark Field #2, Luzon on 12 April 1945 * Arrive Floridablance, Luzon on 12 April 1945 * Left Floridablance, Luzon on 3 August 1945 * Arrived in Ie Shima, Ryukyu Islands on 17 August 1945 * Left Ie Shima, Ryukyu Islands on 10 December 1945 * Soldier authorized to wear American Theater Ribbon [currently known as the American Campaign Medal] per War Department General Orders (WDGO) Number 14276 c. An Honorable Discharge Certificate, dated 11 January 1946, showing the FSM's was assigned to the 1820th Ordnance Supply and Maintenance Company, Aviation. 4. He provides a photograph he stated showed the arrival of two "Betty Bombers" on 20 August 1945, at an airstrip enroute to Manila. REFERENCES: 1. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. The regulation states the American Campaign Medal is awarded for qualifying service in the American theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946. Qualifying service for this campaign medal includes permanent assignment outside the continental U.S., but within the American theater of operations, or duty as a crewmember aboard a vessel sailing ocean waters for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or duty outside the continental U.S. as a passenger or in a temporary duty status for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or active combat against the enemy, or service within the continental U.S. for an aggregate period of 1 year. 2. Department of the Army (DA) Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register), dated 6 July 1961, shows, among other information, unit awards and citations authorized for units which served during WWIII. This pamphlet shows the applicant's unit, 1820th Ordnance Supply and Maintenance Company, Aviation, received campaign credit for Leyte, Luzon, and New Guinea. This pamphlet also shows the unit was cited for award of the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, for the 17 October 1944 to 4 July 1945, by DAGO Number 47, dated 1950. 3. DA Pam 672-1 also shows the Ryukyus campaign was from 26 March to 2 July 1945 DISCUSSION: 1. The available evidence of record shows the applicant served in Australia from 14 November 1943 to 5 November 1944, served in the Philippines from 28 November 1944 to 3 August 1945, and served in Ie Shima, Ryukyus Islands, from 17 August to 10 December 1945. Item 36 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show this overseas service. 2. He served a qualifying period of service for award of the American Campaign Medal. His WD AGO Form 53-55 does not list this award. 3. GO awarded his unit the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation during his period of service. His WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show this award. 4. DA Pamphlet 672-1 shows his unit received campaign credit for Leyte (Philippines), Luzon, and New Guinea. This campaign credit is currently showed in item 32 of his WD AGO Form 53-55. 5. DA Pamphlet 672-1 also show campaign credit was cited for Ryukyus from 26 March to 2 July 1945. He arrived on the Ryukyus Islands on 17 August 1945, after the campaign ended. As such, he did not receive credit for this campaign. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160014935 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160014935 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2