PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:            27 MARCH 2003                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002081514

	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. Gale J. Thomas | | Analyst

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

| Ms. Joann H. Langston | | Chairperson
| Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr. | | Member
| Ms. Eloise C. Prendergast | | 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 WD AGO 53-55 (Honorable Discharge Certificate) be corrected to show his correct birth state of Missouri, and an additional award of the Bronze Star Medal.

3.  The applicant states that his birth state is Missouri and not Maryland as reflected on his WD AGO 53-55, and that he is entitled to an additional Bronze Star Medal because of his award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  In support of his request the applicant submits copies of his discharge certificate, his birth certificate, and a newspaper article concerning his being awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Information herein was obtained from alternate sources. 

5.  The applicant’s birth certificate shows he was born in Adrian, Missouri on 
24 December 1917.

6.  The applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 16 June 1942 and entered active duty on 28 June 1942.  He served in World War II and was awarded the American Theater Ribbon, the European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with 3 Bronze Battle Stars, 1 Service Stripe, 3 Overseas Service Bars, the Good Conduct Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Bronze Star Medal is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized the Combat Infantryman Badge or the Combat Medical Badge for service during World War II.  

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant was born in Missouri and his separation document should be corrected to show his place of birth as Missouri instead of Maryland.  

2.  The applicant is entitled to the Bronze Star Medal as a result of his being awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for service during World War II.

3.  In view of the foregoing, 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 correcting the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 to show his place of birth as Missouri, and by awarding him the Bronze Star Medal for his receiving the Combat Infantryman Badge.

BOARD VOTE:  

__JHL___  __RVO__  ___ECP _  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		____Joann H. Langston______
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID | AR2002081514
SUFFIX |
RECON | YYYYMMDD
DATE BOARDED | 20030327
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. |