2. The applicant requests correction of his military records to show he was separated in the grade of corporal, that he was awarded the sharpshooter badge, and that he completed an arc and acetylene welding course at the Nashville Automobile College. In support of his request he submits a copy of his promotion order, training certification certificate, and photo copy of a sharpshooter badge.
3. The applicants military personnel file was apparently lost or destroyed as a result of the fire at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. However, information reconstructed from documents provided by the applicant, including his WD AGO Form 53-55 (report of separation), indicates he was inducted and entered active duty on 1 July 1942. He completed a 3 month general automotive mechanics course at the Ordnance Special Service School in Baltimore in November 1942. In February 1943 he completed an arc and acetylene welding course at the Nashville Automobile College which, according to the completion certificate, was ordered by the Chief of Ordnance, U.S. Army.
4. In May 1943 the applicant arrived in the Asiatic-Pacific theater of operations and was assigned to the 239th Engineer Combat Battalion. According to an order published by his unit on 14 October 1945 the applicant was promoted to the grade of corporal based on the recommendation of his unit commander. A subsequent document, which enabled him to retain in his possession or to mail a enemy flag, also reflects his grade as corporal.
5. The applicant returned to the United States in December 1945 and on 20 December 1945 was released from active duty with an honorable characterization of service as a result of demobilization. His separation document reflects he was released as a private first class and item 41 (service schools attended) noted his completion of the automotive course in Baltimore. He was awarded an Army Good Conduct Medal in addition to several other service medals.
6. Generally, training recorded on the separation report is intended to assist the soldier after separation in job placement and counseling and as such training courses for combat skills are not listed. Currently, separation reports list formal, in service training courses, of at least 40 hours duration which were successfully completed during the period of service captured by the separation report.
7. Army Regulation 600-8-22 states that a basic marksmanship qualification badge is awarded to indicate the degree in which an individual has qualified in a prescribed record course and an appropriate bar is furnished to denote each weapon with which he or she qualified. Basic qualification badges are of three classes; expert, sharpshooter, and marksman.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. Although the applicants military personnel file is no longer available there is sufficient evidence to indicate he was promoted to corporal prior to his separation from active duty. His separation with an honorable characterization of service and award of the Army Good Conduct Medal is an indication that there was no derogatory events which would have resulted in his reduction to private first class between the time he was promoted in October 1945 and his separation in December 1945.
2. The evidence also confirms the applicant successfully completed an arc and acetylene welding course while on active duty which was recognized by the U.S. Army, although completed at a civilian institution. Completion of that course would certainly have assisted the applicant in job placement following his separation from the service. While the duration of the course is unclear, it clearly meets the intended purpose for entering such training on the separation document.
3. The Board, however, is reluctant to authorize entry of a sharpshooter badge on the applicants record based solely on a photo copy of the badge. The absence of records makes it impossible to confirm the badge was awarded to the applicant, but more importantly, to determine on which weapon qualification was accomplished.
4. In view of the foregoing, it would be appropriate to correct the applicants records as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected;
a. by showing the applicant was promoted to corporal effective 14 October 1945 and separated from active duty in that grade on 20 December 1945; and
b. by showing in item 41 (service schools attended) on his WD AGO Form 53-55 that he completed an Arc and Acetylene Welding course in February 1943.
2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
GRANT FORMAL HEARING
DENY APPLICATION
CHAIRPERSON
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