PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           22 April 2003                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002079738

	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	
	Ms. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Melvin H. Meyer		Chairperson	
	Mr. Curtis L. Greenway		Member	
	Ms. Mae M. Bullock 		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, in effect, correction of item 6 (Organization) on his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to show Company G, 187th Glider Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division.  He also requests award of the Glider Badge.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he served in the 11th Airborne Division, not the "11TH HC" as shown in item 6 (Organization) on his discharge document. He also contends that he completed glider training on Luzon, Philippine Islands, in 1945, and was awarded the Glider Badge.  In support of his application, he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55.

4.  The applicant’s military records were destroyed or lost during the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show that the applicant was inducted on 
8 December 1944.  He served as a rifleman in the Pacific Theater of Operations from 12 July 1945 through 12 September 1946 and was honorably discharged on 23 November 1946.

5.  Item 6 (Organization) on the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the entry, "CO G 187TH GLI INF 11TH HC" [Company G, 187th Glider Infantry, 11th "HC"]. 

6.  The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55, which was authenticated in his own hand, does not show the Glider Badge as an authorized award.

7.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register), dated 6 July 1961, shows, among other information, unit awards and citations authorized for units which served during World War II.  This document shows the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment was assigned to the 11th Airborne Division. 

8.  There are no orders for the Glider Badge in the available records.  There is also no evidence which shows that the applicant met the qualifications for the Glider Badge (satisfactorily completed the proficiency tests then prescribed while assigned or attached to an airborne unit, or to the Airborne Department of the Infantry School, or by participating in at least one combat glider landing into enemy-held territory as a member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission for which the unit was credited with an airborne assault landing by the theater commander). 

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states, in pertinent part, that award of the Glider Badge was discontinued effective 3 May 1961.  The regulation authorizes wear of the Glider Badge if the individual met the eligibility requirements then in effect. The regulation also provides for award of the Glider Badge retroactively when it can be established by means of sufficient documentation that the proficiency tests then prescribed were satisfactorily completed while the individual was assigned or attached to an airborne unit, or to the Airborne Department of the Infantry School, or by participating in at least one combat glider landing into enemy-held territory as a member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission for which the unit was credited with an airborne assault landing by the theater commander. 

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The Board considered the applicant's contention that he served in the 11th Airborne Division.

2.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) shows the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment was assigned to the 11th Airborne Division. 

3.  Item 6 (Organization) on the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 incorrectly shows the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment was assigned to the "11TH HC."  Therefore, it would be appropriate to correct item 6 on the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 to show that he was assigned to Company G, 187th Glider Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division.

4.  The Board considered the applicant's contention that he completed glider training on Luzon, Philippine Islands, in 1945, and was awarded the Glider Badge.  However, there is no evidence of record available to the Board, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows that he was awarded the Glider Badge or that he met the qualifications for award of the Glider Badge.  Therefore, the Board determined that there was insufficient evidence on which to base award of the Glider Badge in this case.

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

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:

	a.  by deleting the entry, "CO G 187TH GLI INF 11TH HC" in item 
6 (Organization) on the WD AGO Form 53-55 of the individual concerned; and

	b.  by adding the entry, "Company G, 187th Glider Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division" in item 6 on his WD AGO Form 53-55.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

MHM___  CLG__  MMB______  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Melvin H. Meyer_____
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002079738	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20030422	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	100.0000	
2.	107.0119	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.