| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. W. E. Schnupp | Analyst |
| Ms. Jennifer L. Prater | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Melvin H. Meyer | Member | |
| Ms. Regan K. Smith | Member |
2. The applicant requests that the organization shown on his WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, be changed from Service Troop, 12th Cavalry Squadron to the 43rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop, 43rd Infantry Division.
3. The applicant states that he served with the 43rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop in New Guinea and Luzon, Philippines, and that unit should be shown on his discharge. The organization currently shown on the WD AGO Form 53-55, Service Troop, 12th Cavalry Squadron, was only for the purpose of his return to the States. In support of his request, he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 100, Separation Qualification Record, an extract from the history of the 43rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop in World War II showing his name as a member of the organization and two letters from former members of the troop attesting to the fact that the applicant was a member of the troop.
4. The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted on 24 May 1943, awarded the military occupational specialty (MOS) of scout, served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations from December 1943 to January 1946, and was honorably discharged at demobilization on 22 January 1946, in the grade of sergeant.
5. The copy of the history of the 43rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop in World War II, furnished by the applicant, was apparently written by a former member of the organization and among other things, contains a roster of former members of the organization. The applicant’s name (without other identifying information) is included on that roster.
6. The letters submitted by two former members of the 43rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop both assert that the applicant was a member of the organization during the New Guinea and Luzon, Philippines, campaigns.
7. Technical Manual 12-235, Discharge Procedures and Preparation of Separation Forms, the regulatory guidance then in effect, provides that item 6 (organization) of the WD AGO Form 53-55, should contain the last unit or similar element to which the soldier was assigned, rather then the element of which he was a part while moving to a separation activity. Assignments to units for the purpose of transfer from a theater to the States are considered part of the movement to a separation activity.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The available evidence suggests that the applicant was probably, as he states, a member of the 43rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop, 43rd Infantry Division during his service in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations in World War II. The organization currently listed on his WD AGO Form 53-55, Service Troop, 12th Cavalry Squadron, was nothing more than a “carrier unit” while he was moving to the States for separation.
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 by showing that the organization of the individual concerned, (item 6 of WD AGO Form 53-55), was the 43rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop, 43rd Infantry Division.
BOARD VOTE:
___rks __ ____mhm ____jlp__ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
_________Jennifer L. Prater____
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2001058702 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20011120 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | YYYYMMDD |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | (GRANT) |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. 100.00 | |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140005332
The applicant requests correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) to show: * his participation in the Leyte and Lingayen Gulf battles in the Philippines * his participation in the Army of Occupation of Japan 2. Based on his award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal and correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show this award. He served qualifying periods of service for award of the World...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002079334C070215
The applicant requests correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to show award of the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart in item 33 (Decorations and Citations). The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he received credit for participation in the New Guinea and Luzon campaigns and was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with two bronze service stars. ' b. by adding award of the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge),...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080003069
Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists the unit awards, campaign, and assault credits received by units serving during World War II. By letter dated 9 June 2005, the National Personnel Records Center informed the applicant he would be sent a number of awards; however, a bronze service star for the Philippine Liberation Ribbon was not listed as one of those awards/appurtenances. Based on the authorized campaigns of New Guinea,...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2015 | 20150004254
The applicant, the son of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests correction of his late father's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) to show award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) with "V" Device and bronze service arrowhead (currently known as an arrowhead device). This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant's failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140000804
The applicant, the son a deceased former service member (FSM), requests correction of the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge) to show the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars. The FSM's military records are not available for review. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. adding to item 32 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 the Luzon and...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002067667C070402
The applicant states that he was not given credit on his discharge document for the Guadalcanal and the New Guinea campaigns. Evidence of record shows the applicant served a period of qualifying service for award of the World War II Victory Medal and the American Campaign Medal; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show these awards. In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130000878
The changes to the names for the awards listed on the WD AGO Form 53-55 are as follows: * American Defense Service Ribbon - is now called a Medal * the Good Conduct Ribbon - is now called a Medal * Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon - now known as the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal * Purple Heart remains unchanged * the Distinguished Unit Badge - is now known as the Presidential Unit Citation * Combat Infantryman qualification - is now shown as an award of the Combat Infantryman Badge * the Lapel...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090020237
The applicant requests the Army of Occupation Medal with two bronze service stars be added to his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge). Therefore, his WD AGO Form 53-55 should be corrected to show this unit award. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. deleting from item 33 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, and b. adding to item 33 of...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080009469
The applicant requests correction of his MOS to an infantry MOS, award of the CIB, and award of the Silver Star. The applicants military records are not available to the Board for review. He went back up the road, under enemy fire, and informed the sergeant of the commander's decision; however, the sergeant told him that the squad had knocked out the machinegun while he was gone; and c. he did not know until July 1945 that someone recommended him for award of the Silver Star for drawing...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070003458
The applicant's military records are not available for review. Therefore, his records should be corrected to show this award. Therefore, his records should be corrected to show this award.