AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

 

 
 

IN THE MATTER OF: 
 
 
 
 

   
XXXXXXX 
(DECEASED) 
XXXXXXX 
 
(APPLICANT) 

 
 
 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 
 
 

 

DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2011-01526 
  
COUNSEL:  NONE 

HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

Unit  Citations 

 
________________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 
 
Her late, great-uncle’s records be corrected to show that he was 
posthumously  awarded  two  Bronze  Star  Medals  (BSMs),  and  was 
entitled  to  the  Combat  Infantryman  Badge  (CIB)  and  three 
Presidential 
(PUCs),  formerly  known  as 
Distinguished Unit Citations (DUCs). 
 
________________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 
 
Her  great-uncle  is  entitled  to  the  requested  awards  and 
decorations  because  he  was  assigned  to  the  724th  Ordnance 
Company,  24th  Pursuit  Group,  Far  East  Air  Force,  while  assigned 
to the Philippines and participated in the Battle of the Points. 
 
Members  of  the  24th  Pursuit  Group,  such  as  her  great-uncle,  were 
absorbed  into  the  First  Provisional  Infantry  Regiment  on 
8 December  1941  and  fighting  alongside  the  Philippine 
Constabulary  during  the  Battle  of  the  Points  on  the  Bataan 
Peninsula.    In  view  of  this,  he  meet  the  qualifications  for  the 
CIB  and  the  BSM,  as  regulations  in  effect  at  that  time  did  not 
require a member to possess the military occupation specialty of 
an  infantryman  or  be  assigned  to  an  infantry  unit.    Further,  by 
virtue  of  being  awarded  the  CIB,  he  is  entitled  to  an  oak  leaf 
cluster  to  the  BSM.    During  the  period  in  question,  the  24th 
Pursuit Group was awarded three DUCs. 
 
In  support  of  the  appeal,  the  applicant  submits  copies  of  her 
great-uncle’s  electronic  enlistment  record  maintained  by  the 
National  Archives  Records  Agency,  Separation  Document,  an 
extract from the governing Army Regulation, an Information Paper 
indicating  that  members  of  the  21th  and  34th  Pursuit  Squadrons 
were  awarded  the  CIB  and  BSM  (based  on  award  of  CIB),  and  his 
death certificate. 
 

 

 

The  applicant’s  complete  submission,  with  attachments,  is  at 
Exhibit A. 
 
________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
STATEMENT OF FACTS: 
 
The  former  member’s  records  were  destroyed  by  fire  in  1973,  at 
the National Personnel Records Center.  Therefore, the following 
information  has  been  extracted  from  the  documentation  provided 
by the applicant and the reconstructed military record. 
 
The former member was a member of the Army Air Corps, who served 
on  active  duty  from  8  July  1941  through  28  December  1945  and 
participated  in  the  Southern  Philippines  and  Luzon  campaigns  in 
the  Asiatic-Pacific  Theatre  from  23  October  1941  through 
2 September  1945,  while  assigned  to  the  734th  Ordnance  Company 
(Aviation), 24th Pursuit Group. 
 
The  term  Battle  of  the  Points  collectively  refers  to  the 
following  engagements  on  the  southern  peninsula  of  Bataan 
Island,  the  Philippines.    Specifically,  the  Lapay-Longoskawayan 
points  from  23  to  29  January  1942;  the  Quinawan-Aglaloma  points 
from  22  January  to  8  February  1942;  and  at  the  Silalim-Anyasan 
points  from  27  January  to  13  February  1942.    During  these 
engagements  Japanese  forces  were  contained  on  their  beachheads 
by  members  of  Philippine  Constabulary  units  and  personnel  from 
several Army Air Corps pursuit squadrons, fighting as infantry. 
 
The  former  member  was  captured  by  the  Japanese  Imperial  Army  on 
7  May  1942,  following  the  fall  of  Corregidor,  subjected  to  the 
Bataan  Death  March,  and  interned  as  a  Prisoner-of-War  (POW) 
until his release on 11 September 1945. 
 
The  Combat  Infantryman  Badge  (CIB)  was  established  by  the  War 
Department  on  27  October  1943  and  was  retroactively  awarded  by 
the Army to those who participated in active ground combat while 
assigned  as  a  member  of  an  infantry  or  Special  Force  unit, 
brigade  of  smaller  size,  during  any  periods  subsequent  to 
6 December  1941.    Subsequent  awards  of  the  CIB  are  not 
authorized  for  the  same  qualifying  period.  War  Department 
Circular  105,  dated  13  March  1944,  amended  the  CIB  requirements 
by  authorizing  retroactive  award  of  Expert  and  Combat 
Infantryman  Badges  to  any  infantryman  who,  on  or  after 
6 December  1941,  had 
established  eligibility  and  been 
recommended for such award. 
 
The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is awarded for heroic or meritorious 
achievement  or  service,  on  or  after  7  December  1941,  not 
involving  participation  in  aerial  flight,  in  connection  with 
military  operations  against  an  armed  enemy.    In  accordance  with 
Change one, dated 9 March 1944, to Army Regulation 600-45, dated 
22  September  1943,  the  required  achievement  or  service  to 

 

 

 

qualify  for  award  of  the  BSM  was  less  than  that  required  for 
award  of  the  Silver  Star  or  the  Legion  of  Merit,  but  must  have 
been  distinctive.    In  addition,  the  BSM  could  be  awarded  to 
recognize  minor  acts  of  heroism  in  actual  combat  or  single  acts 
of merit, or meritorious service either in sustained operational 
activities  against  an  enemy  or  in  direct  support  of  such 
operations.  
 
In  accordance  with  Change  13,  dated  4  November  1947,  to  Army 
Regulation  600-45,  individuals  who  had  been  awarded  a  CIB  or  a 
certificate  of  exemplary  conduct  in  ground  combat  against  an 
armed  enemy  between  7  December  1941  and  3 September  1945,  could 
make application for award of the BSM.   
 
IAW  paragraph  3-14(d)(3)  of  Army  Regulation  600-8-22,  Military 
Awards,  dated  15  September  2011,  upon  application,  award  of  the 
BSM  may  be  made  to  eligible  soldiers  who  participated  in  the 
Philippine  Islands  Campaign  between  7  December  1941  to  10  May 
1942.  Performance of duty must have been on the island of Luzon 
or  the  Harbor  Defenses  in  Corregidor  and  Bataan.    Only  soldiers 
who were awarded the DUC (PUC) may be awarded this decoration. 
 
According  to  Air  Force  Pamphlet  900-2,  dated  15  June  1971,  the 
former member’s group of assignment, i.e., 24th Pursuit Group, is 
entitled to three DUCs for the periods 7 December 1941 to 10 May 
1942, 8 to 22 December 1941, and 6 January 1942 to 8 March 1942. 
 
By  letter,  dated  31  May  2011,  the  Superintendent  of  Air  Force 
Recognition  Programs,  AFPC/DPSIDR,  notified  the  applicant  they 
were  able  to  verify  the  entitlement  to  the  POW  medal,  but  not 
entitlement  to  the  Presidential  Unit  Citation  (successor  to 
DUC), the BSM or the CIB (Exhibit C). 
 
Although  AFPC/DPSIDR  advised  the  applicant  to  request  the  CIB 
through the Army BCMR (ABCMR), who may also be able to determine 
entitlement to the CIB and BSMs, the ABCMR has indicated they do 
not  object  to  the  AFBCMR  awarding  the  requested  awards  and 
decorations,  should  it  be  determined  the  established  criteria 
are met. 
 
________________________________________________________________ 
 
THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 
 
1.  The  applicant  has  exhausted  all  remedies  provided  by 
existing law or regulations. 
 
2.  The  application  was  not  timely  filed;  however,  it  is  in  the 
interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 
 
3.  Insufficient  relevant  evidence  has  been  presented  to 
demonstrate  the  existence  of  an  error  or  an  injustice.    After 
thoroughly reviewing the evidence provided by the applicant, the 
documentation  contained  in  the  reconstructed  military  master 

 

 

 

personnel  record  and  noting  the  criteria  for  the  Combat 
Infantryman  Badge  (CIB)  and  the  Bronze  Star  Medal  (BSM),  we  are 
not  persuaded  the  applicant  has  met  her  burden  of  establishing 
the existence of an error or injustice in this regard.  Although 
the  applicant  contends  that  her  great-uncle  should  receive  the 
CIB and BSMs since members of his group of assignment, i.e., the 
24th  Pursuit  Group,  were  absorbed  into  the  First  Provisional 
Infantry  Regiment  and  were  recognized  for  their  actions  in 
combat  with  the  CIB  and  BSM,  we  find  no  evidence  to  indicate 
that he actually participated in active ground combat.  While it 
is uncontested that some members of the 24th Pursuit Group fought 
alongside  the  Philippine  Constabulary  during  the  Battle  of  the 
Points  on  the  Bataan  Peninsula,  the  evidence  before  us  is 
insufficient  to  determine  that  he  was  one  of  these  individuals.  
The Information Paper indicating that members of the 21st and 34th 
Pursuit  Squadrons  were  awarded  the  CIB  and  BSM  (based  on  award 
of CIB) is duly noted; however, the record does not support that 
the  applicant’s  great-uncle  was  assigned  to  either  of  these 
squadrons.    With  respect  to  the  requests  for  PUCs,  formerly 
known  as  the  DUCs,  according  to  Air  Force  Pamphlet  900-2,  dated 
15  June  1971,  the  unit  of  assignment,  i.e.,  724th  Ordnance 
Company,  of  the  applicant’s  great-uncle  was  not  awarded  any 
DUCs.    Although  his  group  of  assignment,  i.e.,  24th  Pursuit 
Group, received three DUCs, they are not bestowed to subordinate 
units,  unless  they  are  specifically  identified.    Therefore,  in 
view  of  the  above  and  in  the  absence  of  documentary  evidence  to 
indicate  the  applicant’s  great-uncle  participated  in  combat,  we 
find  no  basis  to  recommend  granting  her  request  for  the  CIB  and 
BSMs. 
 
________________________________________________________________ 
 
THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 
 
The  applicant  be  notified  that  the  evidence  presented  did  not 
demonstrate  the  existence  of  material  error  or  injustice;  that 
the  application  was  denied  without  a  personal  appearance;  and 
that  the  application  will  only  be  reconsidered  upon  the 
submission  of  newly  discovered  relevant  evidence  not  considered 
with this application. 
 
________________________________________________________________ 
 
The  following  members  of  the  Board  considered  AFBCMR  Docket 
Number BC-2011-01526 in Executive Session on 13 July 2012, under 
the provisions of AFI 36-2603: 
 

 
 
 
 

XXXXX, Panel Chair 
XXXXX, III, Member 
XXXXX, Member 

The  following  documentary  evidence  was  considered  in  AFBCMR 
Docket BC-2011-01526: 
 

 

 

 

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 23 Apr 11, w/atchs. 
     Exhibit B.  Reconstructed Master Personnel Records. 
 
 
                                   Panel Chair