2.  In effect, the applicant requests that his discharge documents be corrected to show his rank as Corporal.  He states that his documents show that he was a private first class (PFC) at the time of his discharge; however, shortly before his discharge, he was informed by a General and a Corporal that he had been promoted to Corporal.  He stated that he had submitted a previous request in 1995, which included a statement by a witness confirming his promotion to Corporal.  However, he does not now have a copy of that statement.  He was a gunner and was told that his rank should have been that of a sergeant based on that occupational specialty.

3.  The applicant's military records may have been lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  His records are incomplete and there is little information available.

4.  A War Department Form 53-55 indicates that the applicant was inducted into the Army on 4 August 1942, was an infantry soldier, and served in New Guinea and the Philippines during World War II, serving overseas for 2 years, 9 months, and 
7 days.  He was a gunner assigned to an infantry company of the 182nd Infantry Regiment, Americal Division.  He was wounded in Bougainville on 30 September 1944, and in addition to the Purple Heart Medal, he was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars, the Philippine Liberation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Bronze Arrowhead.  He was discharged at Camp Atterbury, Indiana on 20 October 1945.  His rank is shown 
as PFC.

5.  An Honorable Discharge Certificate issued to the applicant on 20 October 1945 shows his rank as PFC.

6.  In 1978 the applicant requested that he be awarded the Bronze Star Medal, and the Bronze Arrowhead, stating, in effect, that he earned those awards, but were never issued them.  In his request, the applicant stated that he had been issued the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

7.  On 1 May 1978 an official at the Reserve Components Personnel and Administrative Center at St. Louis requested that the Army Support Activity at Philadelphia issue the applicant the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars, and the Philippine Liberation Medal with bronze arrowhead.  That official also informed the applicant that there was no record of him receiving the Combat Infantryman Badge, but upon receipt from him of orders showing award of that badge, he would be considered for award of the Bronze Star Medal.  

8.  DA Pamphlet 672-1 contains a register of unit citations and campaign participation credits for World War II.  That pamphlet shows that the 182nd Infantry Regiment participated in an assault landing on Cebu Island in the Philippines on 26 March 1945.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 prescribes Army policy and procedures concerning awards.  Paragraph 7-25 provides for assault landing credit (award of the bronze arrowhead) and states that assault landing credit may be made to units of the Army who, in the combat zone of a battle, participate in the assault waves of an amphibious landing on enemy-held territory.  For the individual soldier to receive award of the arrowhead, the soldier must physically exit the watercraft during the assault landing.  

10.  Paragraph 8-6 of the aforementioned regulation provides for award of the CIB.  That paragraph states that there are basically three requirements for award of the CIB.  The soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, he must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and he must actively participate in such ground combat.

11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides, in pertinent
part, that the Bronze Star Medal is awarded for heroism
and for meritorious achievement or service in military
operations against an armed enemy.  The Bronze Star
Medal is authorized for each individual who was cited in
orders or awarded a certificate for exemplary conduct in
ground combat between 7 December 1941 and 
2 September 1945 or whose such achievement or service, during that period, was confirmed by documents executed prior to 1 July 1947.  An award of the Combat Infantryman Badge or the Combat Medical Badge is considered to be a citation in orders.  This means, in effect, that the Bronze Star Medal is to be awarded to individuals who were
authorized either badge for service during World War II.

12.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 states that the World War II Victory Medal was awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There is no available evidence to show that the applicant was promoted to Corporal prior to his discharge.  His request to change his records to reflect that rank cannot be accepted.

2.  The applicant was an infantryman, who participated in an assault landing with his infantry regiment, and who was wounded in action.  He is entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  Consequently, his entitlement to that award also warrants his authorization for award of the Bronze Star Medal. 

3.  The applicant is entitled to award of the World War II Victory Medal.

4.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.                
2.  That so much of the application as in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

                       GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

                       GRANT FORMAL HEARING

                       DENY APPLICATION

		                           
		        CHAIRPERSON