ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:  21 May 2020

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20190008079


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  correction of his War Department Adjutant General's 
Office (WD AGO) Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable 
Discharge) to show award of the

*	Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp
*	Presidential Unit Citation (formerly known as the Distinguished Unit Citation)

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

*	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record), dated 12 May 
2019
*	WD AGO Form 53-55

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 (ABCMR) 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 in Japan as a military intelligence service interpreter in Japan 
during the U.S. occupation.  He qualified for the Army of Occupation Medal because 
his service in Japan fell between the dates 3 September 1945 and 27 April 1952 
within the four main islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu; the 
surrounding smaller islands of Japan; the Ryukyu Islands and the Bonin-Volcano 
Islands.

	b.  His military intelligence service unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation 
in April 2000 and he is a military intelligence service veteran.

3.  The applicant's complete military records are not available 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 were sufficient documents remaining in 
a reconstructed record to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case.  These 
records consist of files provided from a partial reconstructed record by the National 
Archives and Records Administration and/or National Personnel Records Center.

4.  The applicant's records contain sufficient evidence to support an additional award 
not shown on his WD AGO Form 53-55.  His WD AGO Form 53-55 will be 
administratively corrected to show award of the Army of Occupation Medal with 
Japan Clasp.  

5.  The Board will consider his request for the award of Presidential Unit Citation.

6.  On 24 November 1944, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Army and he 
entered active military service on 27 December 1944.

7.  He served in Japan from 13 January 1945 through 27 January 1946.

8.  On 26 February 1946 he was honorably released from active duty.  His 
WD AGO Form 53-55 shows in:

	a.  item 6 (Organization) – General Headquarters U.S. Army Forces Pacific, 
APO 500;

	b.  item 8 (Place of Separation) – Zama, Kanagawa, Japan;

	c.  item 30 (Military Occupational Specialty and Number) – Japanese Language 
Instructor, 659;

	d.  item 33 (Decorations and Citations) – 

*	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
*	Army Good Conduct Medal
*	World War II Victory Medal
*	American Theater Campaign Medal

9.  The Center for Military History website shows Headquarters and Headquarters 
Battalion, U.S. Army Pacific was organized on 1 July 1945 at Fort Shafter, Hawaii 
and discontinued 1 February 1947.  The unit was re-designated Headquarters, Army 
Ground Forces, Pacific, Fort Shafter, Hawaii on 15 November 1947.

10.  The available evidence is void of information showing the unit in which he 
served or designating his unit as a recipient of the Presidential Unit Citation.


BOARD DISCUSSION:

1.  The Board carefully considered the applicant’s request, supporting documents 
and evidence in the records.  The Board considered the applicant’s statement, his 
record of service to include service in Japan, the belief that his records were lost or 
destroyed in the fire at the personnel records center, his unit of assignment, and the 
record of his separation.  The Board found the applicant’s records show his 
completion of the MIS Language School and assignment to the General 
Headquarters, U.S Army Pacific.  The Board also considered the award of the 
Presidential Unit Citation to the Military Intelligence Service in 2000.  Based on a 
preponderance of evidence, the Board determined that the applicant was eligible to 
have the PUC added to this records.  The Board concurred with the correction stated 
in the Administrative Note(s) below.

2.  After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board found 
that relief warranted.


BOARD VOTE:

Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

:XXX	:XXX	:XXX	GRANT FULL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT FORMAL HEARING

:	:	:	DENY APPLICATION


BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

     The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a    
	recommendation for relief.  As a result, in addition to the correction stated in the   
	Administrative Note(s) that follow, the Board recommends that all Department 
     of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending the 
	applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 for the period of service dated 26 February 1946 
	item 33 (Decorations and Citations) to add “Presidential Unit Citation (PUC).”



	  
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):

A review of the applicant's records shows he was authorized the Army of Occupation 
Medal with Japan Clasp, which is not listed on his WD AGO Form 53-55.



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 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.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and 
administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards.  

	a.  The Distinguished Unit Citation is the predecessor of the Presidential Unit 
Citation.  On 3 November 1966, the Distinguished Unit Citation was re-designated 
the Presidential Unit Citation.  The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to units of 
the Armed Forces of the United States and cobelligerent nations for extraordinary 
heroism in action against an armed enemy occurring on or after 7 December 1941.

	b.  The unit must display such gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in 
accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions as to 
set it apart from and above other units participating in the same campaign.

	c.  The degree of valor required is the same as that which would warrant award 
of a Distinguished Service Cross to an individual.

	d.  For valor and heroism awards, the length of time is a consideration and it will 
be only for the time of the specific heroic event or action.  Extended periods of 
combat duty or participation in a large number of operational missions, either ground 
or air, is not sufficient.  This award will normally be earned by units that have 
participated in single or successive actions covering relatively brief time spans.  It is 
not reasonable to presume that entire units can sustain Distinguished Service Cross 
performance for extended periods except under the most unusual circumstances 
and a written justification for an exception must be provided with the award 
recommendation for recognition of any length over 5 days.

	e.  Unit(s) awarded the Presidential Unit Citation will be announced in Army 
General Orders.

	f.  The Army of Occupation Medal is awarded for service for 30 consecutive days 
at a normal post of duty (as contrasted to inspector, visitor, courier, escort, 
passenger, temporary duty, or detached service) while assigned between 
3 September 1945 and 27 April 1952 in the four main islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, 
Shikoku, and Kyushu, the surrounding smaller islands of the Japanese homeland,


the Ryukyu Islands, and the Bonin-Volcano Islands.  Service between 3 September 
1945 and 2 March 1946 will be counted only if the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal 
was awarded for service before 3 September 1945.

//NOTHING FOLLOWS//

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20190008079

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