| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Paul A. Petty | Analyst |
| Mr. John N. Slone | Chairperson | |
| Mr. John T. Meixell | Member | |
| Ms. Linda D. Simmons | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: In effect, that his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation – Honorable Discharge) for the period 25 April 1941 through 7 October 1945, show: that he had a tour of duty in Pearl Harbor and in Hawaii for over 15 months; that he participated in the invasion of Europe at Omaha Beach, and that he participated in the Battle of the Bulge.
APPLICANT STATES: In effect, that his separation report does not show that he was in the Pearl Harbor area when it was attacked on 7 December 1941, and that there should be something written on his separation report that he served over 15 months on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. “The words ‘unknown’ on my separation paper means nothing to anyone – to me it means being in the Pearl Harbor area while it was being attacked.”
He provides a self authored chronology of his service in the military in which he states that he was a member of the 101st Signal Battalion from May 1941 to
2 March 1943. While assigned to this unit he was on a ship one day out of San Francisco enroute to the Philippines on 7 December 1941, when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Their ship turned around on 7 December 1941, and returned to San Francisco. On 15 December 1941, he and the 101st Signal Battalion departed San Francisco and arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii, on 21 December 1941. He was assigned to the 101st Signal Battalion and stationed on Oahu until
24 February 1943.
He states that as a member of the 305th Signal Operation Battalion, he sailed from New York on 7 April 1944, and arrived in England on 16 April 1944. “Several days after D Day, I landed with the 305th Signal Operation Battalion on Omaha Beach. From June 1944 until September 1945, I served with the 305th throughout various skirmishes in France, Germany, Luxemburg, and of course, the Battle of the Bulge.”
He also provides copies of: his WD AGO Form 53-55; his DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) issued on 19 October 1999, adding military awards and Central Pacific campaign credit to his separation report; a 5 August 2000 letter from a fellow veteran whom the applicant reports served with him in Hawaii and the
101st Signal Battalion; pictures of himself and locations in Hawaii reportedly between 21 December 1941 and 24 February 1943; and picture of General Eisenhower talking to soldiers, one of which the applicant indicates is himself, reportedly a day before D Day.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records show:
The applicant’s records are not available and are presumed to have been destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center when approximately 18 million service members’ records, many from World War II, were destroyed.
His issue on Pearl Harbor was addressed in full by this Board on 11 August 1999, case number AR1998013607, and will not be addressed in this case.
The applicant’s separation report shows that he departed the USA on 7 April 1944, and arrived in the ETO (the European Theater of Operation) on 16 April 1944, and that he departed the ETO on 26 September 1945, and arrived in the USA on 3 October 1945. With respect to service in the ETO, items 32 (Battles and Campaigns) and 33 (Decorations and Citations) of the separation report show that he was given credit for participation in campaigns in Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe, and that he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp.
The Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register), dated 6 July 1961, which gives authorization for award of campaign credit and certain service awards, shows that the 305th Signal Operations Battalion was given credit for participation in campaigns in Northern France (25 July 1944 - 14 September 1944), Rhineland (15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945), Ardennes (6 December 1944 – 25 January 1945), and Central Europe (22 March 1945 – 11 May 1945), and is authorized award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp for service in the ETO from 25 July 1944 - 5 July 1945.
DISCUSSION: Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:
1. There is no provision for entering on the WD AGO Form 53-55, separation report, specific service locations such as Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Oahu, Omaha Beach, or the Battle of the Bulge. The separation report is only for recording movement to and from military theaters of operation. The 305th Signal Operations Battalion was not given credit for participation in the Normandy campaign (D Day and the Invasion) from 6 June 1944 - 24 July 1944, so this campaign cannot be added to the applicant’s separation report. The applicant’s report does show that he was given credit for participation in the Ardennes campaign from 6 December 1944 – 25 January 1945. This was the campaign during which the Battle of the Bulge was fought.
2. In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.
DETERMINATION: The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
__js____ __jm____ ___ls_____ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2001062889 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020321 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | HD |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | 19451007 |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR 615-365 |
| DISCHARGE REASON | Demobilization |
| BOARD DECISION | DENY |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 144.9207 – Combat Service |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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