IN THE CASE OF: 
BOARD DATE: 3 January 2024 
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20230006773 


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  on behalf of her deceased father a former service member (FSM), award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) and the Combat Medical Badge (CMB). 

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

•DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)

•WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and report of Separation - HonorableDischarge)

•Honorable Discharge Certificate

•Certificates of Birth, showing the applicant and her sister are the daughter of theFSM

•Death Certificate for the FSM



FACTS: 

1.The applicant did not file within the 3-year time frame provided in Title 10, U.S.Code, 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 theinterest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file.

2.The applicant states, in effect:

a.Her father served in the Battle of Ryukus Islands, also known as the Battle ofOkinawa. Her family was not aware that an application for these awards. 

b.They were recently told that after the war in 1946, Congress awarded Soldiersand Airmen who served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, the Combat Infantryman Badge or the Combat Medical Badge and they were also entitled to the BSM.  

3.The applicant provides copies of:

a.A WD AGO 53-55, dated 20 January 1946.

b.An Honorable Discharge Certificate, 20 January 1946.




c.A certificate of Birth, City of , showing she is the daughter of the FSMd.A certificate of Birth, showing her sister as a daughter of the FSM.e.A certificate of Death, , of the FSM.

4.The applicant's complete military records are not available for review. A firedestroyed approximately 18 million service members' records at the National PersonnelRecords Center in 1973. It is believed that the applicant's records were lost or destroyedin that fire. However, there were sufficient documents remaining in a reconstructedrecord to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case. These records consist of filesprovided from a partial reconstructed record by the National Archives and RecordsAdministration or the National Personnel Records Center, and documents provided bythe applicant.

5.The available records contain only his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record andReport of Separation Honorable Discharge), his Honorable Discharge Certificate,20 January 1946, and his Separation Qualification Record.

6.The applicant's records contain sufficient evidence to support additional awards anadministrative correction not shown on his WD AGO Form 53-55 and will be listed inadministrative notes. The Board will consider the applicant's requests for the BSM andthe CMB.

7.The former service member (FSM) served on active duty in the Army Air Force from28 December 1942 through 20 January 1946 as a Medical Corpsman (657). Thehighest rank he held was corporal, E-4.

8.His Separation Qualification Record indicates the FSM was a basic medicalcorpsman as a private and a medical corpsman (AAF) as a corporal. His dutyassignment is shown as a first aid man in a dispensary located on an air strip handlingburns and crash cases; and assisting the flight surgeon in minor operations. It furthershows he performed duties in the Southwest Pacific.

9.His WD AGO Form 23-22 shows he was honorably discharged by reason of 'For theConvenience of the Government – Demobilization.' He completed service in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations from 24 June 1945 to 29 December 1945 with battle/campaign recognition in the campaigns/battles of the Air Offensive in Japan, ChinaDefense, and the Ryukyus Islands. His awards are listed as the Army Good ConductMedal, Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, American Service Medal, the World War II VictoryMedal, and Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Carbine Bar (M-1).


BOARD DISCUSSION: 



1.After reviewing the application, all supporting documents, and the evidence foundwithin the military record, the Board found that relief was warranted. The Boardcarefully considered the applicant's record of service, documents submitted in supportof the petition and executed a comprehensive and standard review based on law, policyand regulation. One potential outcome was to deny relief based on the applicant was intheater but not at the tactical level. However, upon review of the applicant’s petition andavailable military records, the Board majority determined there is sufficient evidence toshow the applicant served as a Medical Corpsman (657) with the 337th Air ServiceGroup. Based on regulatory guidance the applicant met the criteria for the CombatMedical Badge and award of the Bronze Star Medal. The Board noted that applicant’sunit also served in the Battle of Aleutian Island and authorized the Aleutian Islandcampaign medal.  Based on this, the Board granted relief.2.Prior to closing the case, the Board did note the analyst of record administrativenotes below, and recommended the correction is completed to more accurately depictthe military service of the applicant.


BOARD VOTE: 

Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 

: :X :X GRANT FULL RELIEF 

: : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

: : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING 

:X : : DENY APPLICATION 



BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 

In addition to the administrative notes annotated by the Analyst of Record (below the signature), 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 amending the applicant’s DD Form 214 for the period ending 20 January 1946 by awarding him the 

•Combat Medical Badge,

•Bronze Star Medal

•Aleutian Island Campaign Medal





Microsoft Office Signature Line...
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 record shows his WD AGO 53-55, for the period ending 20 January 1946 is missing an entry that does not require Board action. As a result, amend the WD AGO 53-55 by adding three bronze service stars to his award of the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal. 


REFERENCES: 

1.Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction ofmilitary records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error orinjustice. This provision of law also allows the ABCMR to excuse an applicant's failure totimely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be inthe interest of justice to do so.

2.Army Regulation 15-185 (Army Board for Correction of Military Records) prescribesthe policies and procedures for correction of military records by the Secretary of theArmy acting through the ABCMR. The ABCMR begins its consideration of each casewith the presumption of administrative regularity. The applicant has the burden of proving an error or injustice by a preponderance of the evidence. 
 
3.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Department of the Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards.   
 
 a.  The Bronze Star Medal is awarded in time of war for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, or while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.   
 
  (1)  Awards may be made for acts of heroism, which are of lesser degree than required for the award of the Silver Star. 
 
  (2)  When the Bronze Star Medal is awarded for heroism, a bronze letter "V" (for valor) is worn on the suspension and service ribbon of that medal. 
 
  (3)  The Bronze Star Medal may be awarded for meritorious achievement or meritorious service to recognize single acts of merit or meritorious service. 
 
  (4)  Award may be made to each service member of the Army, who after 6 December 1941, has been cited in orders or awarded a certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat against an armed enemy between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1947. 
 
  (5)  Award of the Bronze Star Medal may be made to each member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after 6 December 1941, has been cited in orders or awarded a certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat against an armed enemy between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945, inclusive, or whose meritorious achievement has been otherwise confirmed by documents executed prior to 1 July 1947. For this purpose, an award of the Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat Medical Badge is considered as a citation in orders for award of the Bronze Star Medal. 
 
 b.  The CMB was first created in January 1945 and made retroactive to 6 December 1941.  
 
  (1)  The CMB may be awarded to members of the Army Medical Department personnel (Colonial/0–6 and below) assigned or attached to an infantry unit of either a brigade, regiment, or smaller size, or to a medical unit of company or smaller size, organic to an infantry unit of brigade or smaller size, during any period the infantry unit is engaged in actual ground combat on or after 6 December 1941. 
 
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