| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mrs. Nancy Amos | Analyst |
| Mr. George D. Paxson | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Walter T. Morrison | Member | |
| Mr. Richard T. Dunbar | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: That his Report of Separation and Honorable Discharge, WD AGO Form 53-55, be corrected to add the Bronze Star Medal.
APPLICANT STATES: That while a member of the 126th Field Artillery Battalion of the 32d Infantry Division he was attached to an advance party of division artillery personnel that was part of the amphibious assault landing at Aitape, New Guinea. His group overran a Japanese bunker where he recovered some enemy maps relating to defenses in the area which he turned over to an officer. In March 1946 he received a letter from the Adjutant General section of General MacArthur’s headquarters in Japan. The letter acknowledged the 22 April 1944 incident and indicated he was being awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service for having retrieved the maps. He no longer has this letter but it did state that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire in 1973. Information contained herein was obtained from alternate sources.
The applicant enlisted in the National Guard on 12 April 1940. He entered active duty on 15 October 1940. He arrived in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations on 14 May 1942 and departed on 15 October 1944. He was separated on 10 August 1945. His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he participated in the New Guinea campaign.
The historical files of the 126th Field Artillery Battalion, 32d Infantry were reviewed at the National Archives, College Park, MD. The review of the 126th Field Artillery Battalion’s staff duty journal for the period 18 through 23 April 1944
revealed that the advance party departed for the combat area at 7:30 a. m. on 18 April 1944. There is no further entry concerning the advance party. A review of the Historical Report of the Aitape Operation for the period 12 to 29 April 1944 revealed that reports were received on 22 April 1944 that the 163d Regimental Combat Team landing had been successful and the beachhead had been established. Very little enemy opposition had been encountered and the objectives had been taken. The first wave of the main party landed on 23 April 1944. The battalion commander, S-3 (operations officer), and S-2 (intelligence officer) went ashore in the first wave and contacted the advance party. There is no reference to the incident cited by the applicant.
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. The historical records of the 126th Field Artillery Battalion, 32d Infantry failed to reveal the incident mentioned by the applicant. In the absence of the letter from General MacArthur’s headquarters mentioned by the applicant, or other corroborating evidence, there is no evidence of record to show the applicant was awarded or recommended for award of the Bronze Star Medal.
2. Regrettably, 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
__gdp___ __wtm___ __rtd___ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2001063159 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020124 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | (DENY) |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0014 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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