RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 14 November 2007 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20070009207 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. Ms. Catherine C. Mitrano Director Mrs. Nancy L. Amos Analyst The following members, a quorum, were present: Ms. Linda D. Simmons Chairperson Ms. Carmen Duncan Member Mr. Qawiy A. Sabree Member The Board considered the following evidence: Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records. Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including advisory opinion, if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests that his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) be corrected to show he served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations. 2. The applicant states his unit was in England rebuilding bridges. 3. The applicant provides two letters from the National Personnel Records Center; two letters from the Review Boards Agency, Support Division; a letter to the Review Boards Agency, Support Division; a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55; a copy of his WD AGO Form 24 (Service Record); a history of the 1169th Engineer Group (Combat), Alabama Army National Guard; and copies of three pass cards. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant’s failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing. 2. The applicant enlisted in the Army National Guard on 10 June 1940. He entered active duty on 27 June 1941. 3. Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with one bronze service star, the American Defense Service Ribbon with one bronze service star, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon. 4. Item 36 (Service Outside Continental U. S. and Return) of the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he departed the continental United States on 15 August 1941 and arrived in the Pacific Theater on 22 August 1941; that he departed the Pacific Theater on 27 November 1942 and arrived in the continental United States on 1 December 1942; that he departed the continental United States on 1 February 1943 and arrived in the Pacific Theater on 9 February 1943; and that he departed the Pacific Theater on 1 June 1944 and arrived in the continental United States on 10 June 1944. 5. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 24 shows he departed the United States on 14 October 1944 and arrived in England on 25 October 1944. He provided copies of passes to show he was also in Belgium and in France. He departed the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations on an unknown date. His WD AGO Form 24 shows he arrived in the United States on 22 July 1945. 6. The applicant was honorably discharged on 27 July 1945. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The evidence of record shows the applicant departed the continental United States on 14 October 1944 and served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 25 October 1944 to on or about 27 July 1945. His WD AGO Form 53-55 should be amended to reflect this fact. BOARD VOTE: __lds___ __cd____ __qas___ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending item 36 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show he departed the continental United States on 14 October 1944; arrived in the European-African- Middle Eastern Theater of Operations on 25 October 1944; departed the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations on an unknown date; and arrived in the United States on 27 July 1945. __Linda D. Simmons____ CHAIRPERSON INDEX CASE ID AR20070009207 SUFFIX RECON DATE BOARDED 20071114 TYPE OF DISCHARGE DATE OF DISCHARGE DISCHARGE AUTHORITY DISCHARGE REASON BOARD DECISION GRANT REVIEW AUTHORITY Ms. Mitrano ISSUES 1. 100.00 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.