PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:    

	BOARD DATE:          7 November 2002                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR2002074657

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mr. W. E. Schnupp		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas B. Redfern		Member	
	Mr. Donald P. Hupman		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests that his discharge be corrected to show the American Campaign Medal (ACM) and the Good Conduct Medal (GCM).

3.  The applicant states that the foregoing two awards were not shown on his discharge.  In support of his request, he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form   53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, Honorable Discharge.

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center.  Information herein was derived from the document provided by the applicant and from other official sources.

5.  The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he was inducted on 6 July 1945, and served his entire active duty service of 1 year, 4 months and 18 days in the States.  He was honorably discharged at demobilization on 23 November 1946 in the grade of technician fourth grade.  The only awards shown on his discharged document are the World War II Victory Medal and the World War II Honorable Service Lapel Button.  The discharge reflects no lost time.

6.  In response to the applicant’s request, the US Army Reserve Personnel Center made an administrative decision on 7 December 1988 to issue him the GCM, the ACM, the World War II Victory Medal and the World War II Honorable Service Lapel Button.  The GCM and the ACM are not reflected on his WD AGO Form 53-55.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides in pertinent part, that the GCM is awarded on a selective basis to soldiers who distinguish themselves from among their fellow soldiers by their exemplary conduct, efficiency and fidelity throughout a specified period of continuous enlisted active Federal military service.

8.  The same regulation also authorized the ACM to be awarded for service in the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946; and, the World War II Victory Medal for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Although no records, other than the applicant’s discharge, currently exists, it appears, based on the information on that discharge, that he is entitled to the four awards that have already been issued to him, and to have them added to his discharge document.

2.  Based on the applicant’s period of active duty service he is entitled to the ACM, the World War II Victory Medal and the World War II Honorable Service Lapel Button.  Additionally, in view of his honorable service without any lost time and the fact that he was promoted to the rank of technician fourth grade (equivalent of pay grade E-5 today) with less than two years of active duty, it appears that he qualifies for award of the GCM.

3.  Accordingly, the applicant’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 that the individual concerned was awarded the GCM and the ACM in addition to the WWII Victory Medal and the World War II Honorable Service Lapel Button already shown on his WD AGO Form 53-55.

BOARD VOTE:  

___sph__  ____tbr__  ___rvo___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr._____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002074657	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20021107	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  107.00		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.