RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:		DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-02530
			COUNSEL:  NONE
			HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His late uncle’s records be corrected show that he was 
posthumously awarded two Bronze Star Medals (BSMs), and was 
entitled to the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), three 
Presidential Unit Citations (PUCs), formerly known as 
Distinguished Unit Citations (DUCs), and the Philippine PUC.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His uncle is entitled to the requested awards and decorations 
because he was assigned to the 17th Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit 
Group, Far East Air Force, in the Philippines and participated 
in the Battle of the Points.  

Members of the 24th Pursuit Group, such as his uncle, were 
absorbed into the First Provisional Infantry Regiment, and 
fought alongside the Philippine Constabulary during the Battle 
of the Points on the Bataan Peninsula.  In view of this, he met 
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 
Distinguished Unit Citations (DUCs).

The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The former member’s records were destroyed by fire in 1973, at 
the National Personnel Record Center.  Therefore, the following 
information has been extracted from the documentation provided 
by the applicant and the reconstructed military record.

According to information extracted from the National Achieves 
and Records Administration (NARA) database, the former member 
was a member of the Army Air Corps, and served on active duty 
from 3 Aug 39 through 11 Jan 43, and participated in the 
Southern Philippines and Luzon campaigns in the Asiatic-Pacific 
Theatre, while assigned to the 17th Pursuit Squadron 
(Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group, V Interceptor Command.

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 Jan 42; the Quinawan-Aglaloma points from 
22 Jan to 8 Feb 42; and at the Silalim-Anyasan points from 27 
Jan to 13 Feb 42.  During these engagements, Japanese forces 
were contained on their beachheads by members of the Philippine 
Constabulary units and personnel from several Army Air Corps 
pursuit squadrons, fighting as infantry.

The former member was captured by the Imperial Japanese Army on 
7 May 42 and held a Prisoner-of-War (POW) until his death on 
11 Jan 43.

On 20 Jun 11, the former member was posthumously awarded the 
Purple Heart Medal for wounds he received in action which 
resulted in his death.

The CIB was established by the War Department on 27 Oct 43 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 Forces unit, brigade of smaller size, during 
any periods subsequent to 6 Dec 41.  Subsequent awards of the 
CIB are not authorized for the same qualifying period.  War 
Department Circular 105, dated 13 Mar 44, amended the CIB 
requirements by authorizing retroactive award of Expert and 
Combat Infantryman Badges to any infantryman who, on or after 6 
Dec 41, had established eligibility and been recommended for 
such award.

The BSM is awarded for heroic or meritorious achievement or 
service, on or after 7 Dec 41, not involving participating in 
aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an 
armed enemy.  The award recognizes acts of heroism performed in 
ground combat if they are of lesser degree than that required 
for the Silver Star.  It also recognizes single acts of merit 
and meritorious service if the achievement or service is of 
lesser degree than that deemed worthy of the Legion of Merit; 
but such service must have been accomplished with distinction.  

In accordance with Army Regulation 600-8-22, paragraph 3-14(2), 
dated 11 Dec 06, award of the BSM may be made to each member of 
the Armed Forces of the United States who, after 6 Dec 41, has 
been cited in orders or awarded a certificate for exemplary 
conduct in ground combat against an armed enemy between 7 Dec 
41 and 2 Sep 45, inclusive, or whose meritorious achievement has 
been otherwise confirmed by documents executed prior to 1 Jul 
47.  For this purpose, an award for the CIB is considered a 
citation and orders.  In relation to requests for the BSM 
associated with award of the CIB, applicants should send their 
letter application to:  Commander, U.S. Army Human Resources 
Command, AHRC-CC-B, 1 Reserve Way, St. Louis, MO 63132-5200.  
The letter application should include documentary evidence, if 
possible.

The PUC, formerly known as the Distinguished Unit Citation, is 
conferred to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and 
of cobelligerent nations, for extraordinary heroism in action 
against an armed enemy on or after 7 Dec 41.  

According to Air Force Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards, 
and Campaign Participation Credits, dated 15 Jun 71, the former 
member’s squadron of assignment, i.e., 17th Pursuit Squadron 
(Interceptor), is entitled to the Philippine Republic 
Presidential Unit Citation (PRPUC) for the periods of 7 Dec 41 
through 10 May 42 and 17 Oct 44 through 4 Jul 45 and his former 
group of assignment, i.e., 24th Pursuit Group, is entitled to 
three Distinguished Unit Citations for the periods 7 Dec 41 
through 10 May 42, 8 through 22 Dec 41, and 6 Jan 42 through 
8 Mar 42.

AFPC/DPSID verified the member’s entitlement to the POW medal, 
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, 
American Defense Service Medal, and the Gold Star Lapel Pin, and 
will administratively correct his records to reflect these 
awards.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DPSID recommends denial of the applicant’s request for 
award of the PUC w/2 OLCs, Philippine PUC, CIB, and BSM w/1OLC.

DPSID indicates they were unable to verify any units the former 
member served in order to verify award of the PUC or the 
Philippine PUC.

Official documentation, to include a Special Order verifying the 
applicant was recommended for and/or awarded the Bronze Star 
Medal was not located within the member’s official military 
personnel record.  However, it appears the applicant is 
requesting the BSM in relation to the CIB; therefore, is 
requesting award of the CIB for actions during the Battle of 
Luzon.  Unfortunately, award approval for the CIB lies with the 
Department of the Army; therefore, the applicant will need to 
submit this portion of his request to the Department of the 
Army.  
DPSID states AR 600-8-22, paragraph 3-14d(2), Bronze Star Medal 
and paragraph 8-6f(2), Combat Infantryman Badge, provides an 
avenue for individuals (or Next of Kin), who may determine they 
are entitled to this award, to request consideration.  
Therefore, the Department of the Air Force must defer to the 
Department of the Army in relation to the awarding of the CIB. 

The complete DPSID evaluation is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 11 Sep 12, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded 
to the applicant for review and comment within 30 days.  As of 
this date, a response has not been received by this office 
(Exhibit D).

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THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by 
existing law or regulations pertaining to his request for the 
PRPUC and PUCs.  However, we note that he has not done so with 
regard to his request for the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) or 
the Bronze Star Medals.  As indicated by AFPC/DPSID and the 
documentation submitted by the applicant in support of this 
appeal, these requests should be sent to the Commander, U.S. 
Army Human Resources Command, AHRC-CC-B, 1 Reserve Way, St. 
Louis, MO 63132-5200.

2.  The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the 
interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file.

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice to warrant 
correcting his records to reflect his entitlement to three 
Distinguished Unit Citations and the Philippine Republic 
Presidential Unit Citation (PRPUC).  After thoroughly reviewing 
the evidence provided by the applicant and the documentation 
contained in the reconstructed military record, we believe 
partial relief is warranted in this case.  In this respect, we 
note the former member was assigned to the 17th Pursuit Squadron 
(Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group, V Interceptor Command, and 
captured by the Imperial Japanese Army on 7 May 42 during the 
fall of the Philippine Islands and held as a Prisoner-of-War 
(POW) until his death on 11 Jan 43.  We further note that 
according to AFP-900-2, dated 15 June 1971, the 17th Pursuit 
Squadron (Interceptor) was awarded the PRPUC during the period 
7 Dec 41 through 10 May 42 and the 24th Pursuit Group was 
awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations for the periods 7 Dec 
41 through 10 May 42, 8 through 22 Dec 41, and 6 Jan 42 through 
8 Mar 42. Although currently organizations subordinate to a 
higher wing or group are not bestowed unit awards unless the 
subordinate units are also identified as recipients, this was 
not the case during the period in question.  Moreover, we 
recognize that during the fall of the Philippine Islands, 
members of ground personnel assigned to the 24th Pursuit Group 
were absorbed by various infantry units and heroically fought in 
defense of the islands until their death or capture.  While we 
have no documentary evidence that confirms, with any certainty, 
what period the former member was actually assigned to the 17th 
Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group, in view of 
the fact that he was captured on 7 May 1942, it is clear that he 
was assigned during the periods for which the unit citations 
were awarded.  Therefore, we recommend his records be corrected 
to the extent indicated below.

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THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air 
Force relating to FORMER MEMBER, be corrected to show that he 
was awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation and the 
Distinguished Unit Citation with Two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters.

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The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2012-02530 in Executive Session on 5 Feb 13, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

, Panel Chair
, Member
, Member

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended.  The 
following documentary evidence was considered:

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 12 May 12, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Reconstructed Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPSID, dated 24 Jun 12, w/atchs.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 11 Sep 12.




                                   
                                   Panel Chair

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