ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS I BOARD DATE: 6 June 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20190002520 APPLICANT REQUESTS: in effect, correction of item 30 (Military Occupational Specialty and Number) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation – Honorable Discharge) to show his specialty as 844 (Gun Crewman, Light Artillery) instead of 846 (Light Truck Driver). APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * U.S. Senator Privacy Consent Form, dated 12 March 2019 * Email correspondence between Army Review Boards Agency Liaison Officer and applicant, dated 13 March 2019 * Letter to the President of the United States from the applicant's family, dated 15 November 2018 * A document titled, "Incoming Passenger List" * WD AGO Form 53-55, with date of separation of 8 October 1945 * Army of the United States – Honorable Discharge Certificate * Certification of Military Service, dated 13 September 2018 FACTS: 1. The applicant did not file within the three year time frame provided in Title 10, United States Code (USC), section 1552 (b); however, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records conducted a substantive review of this case and determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. 2. The applicant states: a. He served under General Patton in Africa, Germany, France, Austria, and Italy as a Field Artillery and Munition Specialist. When the war ended, he was requested to stay behind to do "clean-up" patrol, dismantle trucks and equipment that had been left behind and was not shipped out with General Patton's troop units. b. He was then assigned to another troop unit when he was shipped out. He was then discharged from Fort Douglas, Wisconsin. He did not realize that his specialty had changed to truck driver until years later and was unaware of how to correct it. He served his country as a Field Artillery and Munitions Specialist and would like his discharge papers to reflect that before he dies. He is now over 100 years old. 3. The applicant's complete 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 applicant's records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, there was only a final payment roll document recovered to reconstruct his record and that documents along with the documents he provides are sufficient for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. 4. The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 7 July 1942 and honorably discharged on 8 October 1945 at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin after serving 3 years, 3 months and 2 days with 2 years and 6 months of foreign service. He served in World War II, in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations from on or about 9 September 1943 to on or about 12 August 1944 and subsequently in the European Theater of Operations from on or about 15 August 1944 to on or about 22 September 1945. a. Item 6 (Organization) shows he was assigned to Company C, 422d Infantry [Regiment]. b. Item 30 shows his specialty as "Truck Driver, Light 846." c. Item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) shows he served in the Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe campaigns. d. Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) shows he was awarded the: "[Army] Good Conduct Medal, by General Order Number 5 issued by HQ 155 FA BN 43" and the "Bronze Service Arrowhead." e. Item 55 (Remarks) shows he was further awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Service Medal [EAME Campaign Medal], four overseas service bars, and lapel button. 5. The applicant provides: a. An honorable discharge certificate and a certification of military service, which both show his discharge from the Army of the United States as 8 October 1945. However, these documents do not show his military specialty. b. A document titled, "Incoming Passenger List" for a vessel that sailed from Le Havre [port in France] with the 422d Infantry Regiment as the unit designation. This document shows the applicant's name as passenger 130 with the Arm or Service as "FA." Consequently, specialty 844 (Gun Crewman, Light Artillery) falls under "FA." 6. The applicant's reconstructed record only contains a War Department Form Number 371 (Final Payment Roll), dated 8 October 1945, which shows his final payment from the service. It does not indicate his military specialty. 7. Technical Manual 12-236 (Preparation of Separation Forms), dated April 1945, describe in detail, step by step, the proper method of executing the series of eight-part Separation Forms for officer and enlisted personnel, which are a combination of ·the various Certificates of Discharge and Service with the Report of Separation, WD AGO Form 53. For item 30 the military occupational specialty will be the same as the MOS entered on WD AGO Form 100 (Army Separation Qualification Record), if execute, otherwise from the WD AGO Form 20 (Qualification Card); the number will follow the title. 8. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), currently in effect, prescribes policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards. a. The World War II Victory Medal is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946, both dates inclusive. b. The Army of Occupation Medal is awarded for service for 30 consecutive days at a normal post of duty while assigned to the Army of Occupation of Germany (exclusive of Berlin) between 9 May 1945 and 5 May 1955. Service between 9 May and 8 November 1945 will be counted only if the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for service before 9 May 1945. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found that relief was warranted. The Board found sufficient evidence that the applicant was an artilleryman during several campaigns of World War II. Because he served in Germany during 1945, the Board also found that the applicant is authorized the award of two campaign medals, The World War II Victory Medal and The Army of Occupation Medal. ? BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 :X :X :X GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: After review of the application and all evidence, the Board determined that there is sufficient evidence to grant full relief. 1. The record indicates that item 30 of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55, with date of separation of 8 October 1945 is incorrect and does not reflect the applicant’s service in the Artillery MOS or authorized awards. Correct the record by reissuing the applicant a corrected DD Form 214 with the following amendments: * Item 11 “13B20 Artilleryman - 3 YRS 3 MOS” vice “Truck Driver Light S46” * Item 13 add “The World War II Victory Medal” and “The Army of Occupation Medal” 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. ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE(S): Not Applicable ? REFERENCES: 1. Title 10, USC, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within three 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 three-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. 2. Technical Manual 12-236 (Preparation of Separation Forms), dated April 1945, describe in detail, step by step, the proper method of executing the series of eight-part Separation Forms for officer and enlisted personnel, which are a combination of ·the various Certificates of Discharge and Service with the Report of Separation, WD AGO Form 53. a. For item 6 enter the last tactical or administrative and tactical unit, or similar element to which he was assigned, rather than the element of which he was a part while moving to a disposition center, reception station, or separation center. Assignments to units for purpose of transfer from a theater to the United States are considered part of the movement to a separation center. For individual who have had oversea service since 16 September 1940, either the oversea unit with which he served the longest, or that with which he earned the greatest number of Adjusted Service Rating combat points, may be entered at the option of the individual concerned. Designation of the organization will be precisely as indicated on page 5 of the Service Record. "AVN," "HD," "Abn," or similar designation, will be entered in appropriate cases. b. For item 30 enter the military occupational specialty will be the same as the MOS entered on WD AGO Form 100, if execute, otherwise form the WD AGO Form 20; the number will follow the title. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20190002520 2 1