IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 22 August 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160019173 BOARD VOTE: _________ _______ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ____x___ ___x____ ___x____ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 22 August 2018 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160019173 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. _________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: AR20160019173 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 his late father's, a former service member (FSM), WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation – Honorable Discharge), for the period ending on 30 October 1945, to show the Presidential Unit Citation. 2. The applicant states: a. He requested awards and commendations for his late father and received a list of earned awards from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), Case Number A6KUA325ZG97M. The list did not include the Presidential Unit Citation issued for the Battle of Okinawa. From his feeble research, it appears his father was part of that battle with the 96th Infantry Division and he would be entitled to the citation. The error might be on him for his faulty research. He just wanted to check to see if his father was eligible for the award and to set the record straight. In reviewing the discharge records it indicates his father was assigned to the 381st Infantry Division and not the 96th Infantry Division. b. His father said that he was assigned to the 96th Infantry Division. He believes the 381st Infantry Division also received a Presidential Unit Citation for Okinawa and the Philippines. He knows his father was honorably discharged. His father told him that he fought in Okinawa during World War II (WWII). The attached WD AGO Form 53-55 indicates his father fought with the 381st Infantry Division in Okinawa, but he remembers his father saving that he served with the 96th Infantry Division. 3. The applicant provides his father's WD AGO Form 53-55, a Power of Attorney, a letter from the NPRC, and a death certificate. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The FSM'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 the FSM's records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, there were sufficient documents remaining in a reconstructed record and provided by the applicant for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. 2. The FSM's 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 20 September 1944 and entered active duty on the same date. The form also shows in: * Item 6 (Organization) – Company F, 381st Infantry * Item 7 (Date of Separation) – 30 October 1945 * Item 30 (Military Occupational Specialty) – Rifleman - 745 * Item 32 (Military Qualification and Rate) – Combat Infantryman Badge and Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-1) * Item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) – Battle of the Ryukyus * Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) – Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and Army Good Conduct Medal * Item 34 (Wounds) – None * Item 36 (Service Outside Continental U.S. and Return) – he served in the: * Oahu, Hawaii from 11 March to 6 April 1945 * Saipan from 17 to 28 April 1945 * Okinawa, Shima from 2 May to 23 July 1945 * Mindoro, Philippines from 3 August 1945 to an unknown date * Item 37 (Total Length of Service) – 5 months and 15 days of continental service and 7 months and 26 days of foreign service * Item 55 (Remarks) – Honorably discharged to enlisted in the Regular Army (RA) b. An Honorable Discharge Certificate, dated 30 October 1945, showing the FSM's was assigned to Company F, 381st Infantry. c. A Final Payment Roll showing the FSM was assigned to the 381st Infantry and he was discharged on 30 October 1945. d. A WD AGO Form 53-55 showing he enlisted in the RA on 31 October 1945. The form also shows in: * Item 6 – Headquarters Company, 23rd Infantry * Item 7 – 13 December 1946 * Item 30 – Truck Driver Light - 345 * Item 32 – Combat Infantryman Badge * Item 32 – None * Item 33 – WWII Victory Medal * Item 34 – None * Item 36 – Reenlisted in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations on 31 October and served to 29 December 1945 * Item 37 – 0 months and 26 days of continental service and 2 months and 16 days of foreign service * Item 55 – Honorable Service Lapel Button e. An Honorable Discharge Certificate, dated 13 December 1946, showing the FSM was assigned to Headquarters Company, 23rd Infantry. f. A DA Form 1577, dated 9 September 1988, awarding and issuing the FSM the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. 3. The applicant provides documentation showing he was awarded power of attorney on 5 February 2005, to manage and transact his father's affairs. 4. The FSM's available record also contains a death certificate showing he died on 2 November 2015. 5. The applicant also provides a letter, dated 27 October 2016, wherein the NPRC advised him of the authorized shipment of the following awards for his father: * Bronze Star Medal * Army Good Conduct Medal * Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze service star * WWII Victory Medal * Combat Infantryman Badge (1st Award) * Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII * Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar 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 Presidential Unit Citation (known as the Distinguished Unit Citation until 3 November 1966) is awarded for extraordinary heroism in action. A unit must display such gallantry, determination and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission as would warrant award of the Distinguished Service Cross to an individual. 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 381st Infantry, 96th Infantry Division, received campaign credit for Leyte and Ryukyus. This pamphlet shows the 381st Infantry Regiment was part of the 96th Infantry Division; however, the pamphlet does not show this unit was cited for award of the Distinguished Unit Citation [currently known as the Presidential Unit Citation] for Okinawa. DISCUSSION: 1. The available evidence shows the FSM was assigned to Company F, 381st Infantry, during his period of active duty from 20 September 1944 to 30 October 1945. This regiment was part of the 96th Infantry Division. He served in Okinawa from 2 May to 23 July 1945. 2. The DA Pamphlet 672-1 does not show the Company F, 381st Infantry [Regiment], 96th Infantry Division [FSM's unit] was cited for award of the Presidential Unit Citation for the Battle of Okinawa during the FSM's period of service. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160019173 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160019173 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2