2.  The next of kin of the former service member (FSM) requests that his military records be corrected to reflect that he was awarded the World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal (Italy).

3.  The applicant states that the above-indicated medals should have been issued to the FSM because he served during World War II and during his assignment his unit performed occupation duty in Italy.

4.  His military record shows that he was inducted on 1 July 1942 and served 1 year, 1 month and 20 days in the European Theater of Operations.  He was honorably discharged on 1 November 1945.

5.  His awards include the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Presidential Unit Citation.

6.  The record shows that he was a member of the 361st Infantry, a unit in the 91st Division which performed occupational duties in the Venezia-Giulia Province of Italy.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides that the World War II Victory Medal will be awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946, both dates inclusive.  The Army of Occupation Medal (Italy) is awarded for 30 days consecutive service in the compartment of Venezia Giulia E. Zara or Province of Udine or with a unit in Italy designated in Department of the Army general orders.

8.  The same regulation provides that subsequent to the cessation of hostilities during World War II, the regulation governing the award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) was changed, in part, to provide for the award of this decoration to those individuals who had been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge or the Combat Medical Badge for meritorious achievement in ground combat against the armed enemy between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The FSM was a member of the US Army who served during the requisite period necessary to be eligible for the award of the World War II Victory Medal.

2.  The record also shows that he was assigned to a unit in a location in Italy that would qualify him for award of the Army of Occupation Medal (Italy).

3.  The FSM is likewise authorized the BSM, based on the fact that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge during his World War II service, as noted above.

4.  In view of the foregoing, the FSM’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing the individual concerned was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal (Italy) and the BSM for service during World War II.

BOARD VOTE:  

                       GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

                       GRANT FORMAL HEARING

                       DENY APPLICATION




		                           
		        CHAIRPERSON