PROCEEDINGS
IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 19 November 1998
DOCKET NUMBER: AC97-07199
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.
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 correction of his discharge document to show 9th Infantry Division instead of Btry A 60th FA Bn [Battery A 60th Field Artillery Battalion], credit for the Ardennes and Central Europe Campaigns, award of the Distinguished Unit Citation, and correction of his place of birth.
3. The applicant states that the errors in his discharge were discovered at the units 50th reunion. In support of his application, he submits a letter from a retired general officer, a copy of the 9th Infantry Division 50th reunion announcement, an extract of the unit history, and a copy of his revised birth certificate.
4. The applicants military records were destroyed or lost in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973. Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show he entered active duty on 25 November 1940. He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 8 November 1942 to 19 May 1945. The applicant was honorably discharged on 26 June 1945.
5. The applicants WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation), which is authenticated in his own hand, shows his unit of assignment was Battery A 60th Field Artillery Battalion.
6. Item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of the applicants WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the Ardenes-Alsace or Central Europe campaigns. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows, among other information, campaign credit for World War II. This document shows the 60th Field Artillery Battalion of the 9th Infantry Division received credit for the Central Europe and Ardennes-Alsace campaigns during World War II.
7. Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) of the applicants WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the Distinguished Unit Citation as an authorized award. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows, among other information, unit citations awarded during World War II. This document shows the 60th Field Artillery Battalion of the 9th Infantry Division was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation by War Department General Order 84-47.
8. The Board also notes the applicant is entitled to award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp. Department of the Army Pamphlet
672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows, among other information, credit for occupation duty during World War II. This document shows the 60th Field Artillery Battalion received credit for occupation duty in Germany during World War II for the period 2 May to 27 December 1945. Records show the applicant was assigned to the 60th Field Artillery Battalion during part of the period of occupation duty.
9. The Board also notes that the applicant is entitled to award of the Belgian Fourragere. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows the 60th Field Artillery Battalion was awarded the Belgian Fourragere by Department of the Army General Order Number 43-50.
10. Item 11 (Place of Birth) of the applicants WD AGO Form 53-55 shows Trinidad Colo. The revised birth certificate provided by the applicant shows that he was born at Wichita Falls, Texas.
11. Based on regulation in effect at the time, a soldiers unit of assignment at the time of his separation from the service was entered in Item 6 (Organization) of the WD AGO Form 53-55.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The Board notes the 60th Field Artillery Battalion was a unit in the 9th Infantry Division during World War II. However, evidence of record shows the applicant was assigned to and served with Battery A 60th Field Artillery Battalion; therefore, item 6 of the applicants WD AGO Form 53-55 is correct as currently constituted.
2. The applicant was assigned to a unit when it received credit for the Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe campaigns; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these campaigns.
3. The applicant was a member of a unit which was cited for award of the Distinguished Unit Citation and the Belgian Fourragere; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these unit awards.
4. The applicant served a period of qualifying service for award of the Army of Occupation medal with Germany Clasp; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.
5. The applicants place of birth currently shown in item 11 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 is incorrect. The applicant had provided evidence of record which shows his correct place of birth is Wichita Falls, Texas. Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his military records to show his correct place of birth.
6. In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicants records, but only as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:
a. by showing in item 32 of the WD AGO Form 53-55 of the individual concerned the Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe campaigns;
b. by showing he was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation, the Belgian Fourragere and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp; and
c. by correcting item 11 (Place of Birth) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show Wichita Falls, Texas.
2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied
BOARD VOTE:
FNE_____ TAP____ BJE_____ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
______________________
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