| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Paul A. Petty | Analyst |
| Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr. | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Regan K. Smith | Member | |
| Mr. Donald P. Hupman | Member |
2. The applicant requests, in effect, that he be awarded any military awards for which he is authorized but has not received.
3. The applicant states, in effect, that in 1945 during WWII, he was in combat with Company D Headquarters, 66th Armored Infantry Battalion, 12th Armored Division. He has not received the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) to which he is entitled. He provides a copy of his
WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) and his DD Form 256A (Honorable Discharge Certificate).
4. The Board requested the applicant’s military records from the repository in
St. Louis, Missouri, but without success. A fire destroyed approximately
18 million service members’ records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. It is believed that the applicant’s records were lost in that fire. From available alternate records and copies of official military documents provided by the applicant, it is shown that he was inducted into the Army on 28 March 1941. On 2 April 1943, he was shipped overseas to the European Theater of Operations arriving on 13 April 1943. He advanced to the rank of Private First Class (PFC).
5. The applicant is one of 2221 African-American Volunteers who volunteered for infantry duty in early 1945 in response to a 26 December 1944 call from Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, for such volunteers to replace infantry losses experienced during the Battle of the Bulge in WWII. A condition of volunteering for African-American soldiers was administrative reduction to Private (PVT) or Private First Class (PFC). After volunteering, the applicant received combat infantry training in France for six weeks and was then assigned to Company D, 66th Armored Infantry Battalion, 12th Armored Division, in or about March 1945. He fought with this unit in combat. On 30 or 31 March 1945, the applicant was wounded in combat by a rifle bullet that entered his leg and broke his tarsal bone (ankle). The applicant was evacuated to the 121st Station Hospital where he was treated. The applicant was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action in Germany on 30 March 1945 by General Orders Number 8, Headquarters, 121st Station Hospital, dated 24 April 1945. He was medically evacuated from Europe on 26 May 1945 and arrived back in the United States on 28 May 1945 where he was assigned to the convalescent hospital at Camp Upton, New York. He was honorably discharged on 31 August 1945 with a certificate of disability. He was discharged as a PFC, the highest rank that he held. His discharge shows that he was an infantryman. In addition to the Purple Heart, he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern (EAME) Campaign Medal and the American Defense Service Medal. He was credited with participation in two campaigns, the Rhineland and the Rome-Arno.
6. Award of the Purple Heart, according to AR 600-8-22, is made to soldiers wounded, injured, or killed from an outside force or agent as a result of an action against an enemy or an act of any such enemy.
7. According to Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, the CIB is awarded to a soldier with an infantry MOS who is assigned or attached to an infantry, ranger, or special forces unit of brigade, regimental, or smaller size during any period that such unit was engaged in active ground combat with the enemy. The soldier must have been personally present and under hostile fire while serving in an assigned infantry or special forces primary duty, in a unit actively engaged in ground combat with the enemy.
8. According to Army Regulation 600-8-2, Military Awards, paragraph 3-13, a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945, was awarded the CIB or other certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat against an armed enemy, is eligible for award of the BSM for meritorious achievement or service.
9. According to Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, paragraph 5-12,
a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, between 7 December 1941 and 8 November 1945, served in the European, African, and/or Middle Eastern areas of operations, is authorized the EAME Campaign Medal. One bronze service star is authorized for wear on the EAME for each campaign in which the soldier participated when the soldier is assigned or attached to, and present for duty, with a unit in combat in the areas of operation or was awarded a combat decoration.
10. The American Theater Campaign Medal is authorized by Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, for any soldier who served in the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946 within the continental limits of the United States for an aggregate period of 1 year.
11. The Good Conduct Medal is awarded to soldiers who distinguish themselves from among their fellow soldiers by their exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity according to Army Regulation 600-8-2, Military Awards, Chapter 4, Section I. The qualifying periods of service include: 3 years completed on or after 27 August 1940, and for the first award only, 1 year served entirely during the period 7 December 1941 to 2 March 1946.
12. The World War II Victory Medal is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946 according to Army Regulation 600-8-2, Military Awards, paragraph 5-11.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. In view of the applicant’s volunteering for combat infantry duty and his performance of such duty as an infantryman in an infantry unit wherein he was wounded in combat, he should be awarded the CIB, the BSM, and the Good Conduct Medal. He is also authorized award of the American Theater Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal based on his service. In light of his credit for two campaigns in the European Theater, he is also entitled to wear two bronze service stars on his EAME Campaign Medal.
2. In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected for the individual concerned by:
a. awarding him the CIB, the BSM, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Theater Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal; and
b. providing him the EAME Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars.
BOARD VOTE:
__ro___ ___rs___ ___dh_____ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
____Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr._____
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2001051693 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20011016 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107 – Awards and Decorations |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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