PROCEEDINGS


         IN THE CASE OF:
        

         BOARD DATE: 30 April 2002
         DOCKET NUMBER: AR2001065594


         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.

Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director
Ms. Rosa M. Chandler		Analyst

The following members, a quorum, were present:

Mr. Arthur A. Omartian		Chairperson
Mr. Hubert O. Fry, Jr.		Member
Mr. Thomas E. O'Shaughnessy, Jr.		Member

         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.

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2. The applicant requests correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation-Honorable Discharge) to show that his military occupational specialty (MOS) was not 504 (Ammo Bearer), but 746 (Automatic Rifleman), and that he served in Belgium.

3. The applicant states that he was an infantryman and that he carried the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR); he adds that he never served in MOS 504. He also states that he was wounded while serving in Belgium and believes that his record should be corrected to reflect that he served in Belgium. In support of his request, he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 and his Honorable Discharge Certificate, both dated 30 August 1945; a certificate that lists the awards that he is authorized, dated 23 June 1945; copies of Department of the Army, Office of the Surgeon General hospital admission cards for the period between 1942-1954 and hospitalization file listings for 1944 and 1945.

4. The applicant’s military records are presumed lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973. Information herein was obtained from the applicant.

5. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows:

         a. He was inducted into the Army of the United States on 16 November 1943 and was separated with an Honorable Discharge on 30 August 1945 with a "Certificate of Disability for Discharge" under the provisions of Army Regulation (AR) 615-361, then in effect.

         b. He departed the United States on 20 September 1944, arriving in Scotland on 26 September 1944 and England on 28 September 1944. On 7 October 1944, he departed England and arrived in France on 9 October 1944. On 17 October 1944, entered Germany with his unit. On 30 April 1945, he departed Germany, arriving in the United States on 15 May 1945.

         c. During his service in the European Theater of Operations (ETO), the applicant was assigned to Company F, 119^th Infantry Regiment, 30^th Infantry Division. He is credited with serving in two campaigns - Rhineland and Ardennes.

         d. He was awarded the Purple Heart (PH), the Good Conduct Medal (GCMDL), the European-African-Middle Eastern (EAME) Campaign Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and the Honorable Service Lapel Button.

         e. His Arm of Service is listed as "Inf" for Infantry, and his MOS is listed as "Ammo Bearer - 504."

6. Army Regulation (AR) 600-8-22 (Military Awards) sets forth Department of the Army criteria, policy and instructions concerning individual military awards, the Good Conduct Medal, service medals and service ribbons, combat and special skill badges and tabs, unit decorations, and trophies and similar devices awarded in recognition of accomplishments. It states, in pertinent parts:

         a. The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is awarded for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service in military operations against an armed enemy. The BSM is authorized for each individual who was cited in orders or awarded a certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945 or whose achievement or service, during that period, was confirmed by documents executed prior to 1 July 1947. An award of the CIB is considered to be a citation in orders. This means, in effect, that the BSM is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized this badge for service during World War II.

         b. The World War II Victory Medal (WWII Victory Medal) is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946, both dates inclusive.

         c. A bronze service star (BSS)is awarded, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation and states that authorized BSS will be worn on the appropriate service medal.

7. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists the unit awards received by units serving in World War II. This document shows the unit to which the applicant was assigned was cited for award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) by Department of the Army General Order Number 184, dated 11 July 1945. It also shows that the unit was twice cited for award of the French Croix de Guerre for the periods 15 June 1944 and 17-25 December 1944 Department of the Army General Order Number 14-59 and 43-50 respectively. It also shows that the unit was awarded the Belgian Fourragere for the periods 4-10 September 1944 and 17-25 January 1945 by Department of the Army General Order Number 43-50. Per AR 600-8-22, the French Fourragere may be awarded by the French Government when a unit has been cited twice for the Croix de Guerre. The award of the fourragere is not automatic, but requires a specific decree of the French Government. Persons who were present in only one action are not authorized to wear the fourragere.

8. War Department Circular 269-1943 established the CIB and the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB) to recognize and provide an incentive to infantrymen. The EIB was to be awarded for attainment of certain proficiency standards or by satisfactory performance of duty in action against the enemy. The CIB was awarded for exemplary conduct in action against the enemy. War Department Circular 186-1944 further provided that the CIB was to be awarded only to infantrymen serving with infantry units of brigade, regimental or smaller size. The Awards Branch, Total Army Personnel Command, has advised in similar cases that, during World War II, the CIB was normally awarded only to enlisted individuals who served in the following positions and MOS’s:

a. Light machine gunner (604)
b. Heavy machine gunner (605)
c. Platoon sergeant (651)
d. Squad leader (653)
e. Rifleman (745)
f. Automatic rifleman (746)
g. Heavy weapons NCO (812)
h. Gun crewman (864)

CONCLUSIONS:

1. Because the applicant’s service records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973, it is impossible to determine his exact MOS. However, the applicant did serve in the Infantry Branch and he was awarded the CIB. MOS 504 (Ammo Bearer) was not an MOS designated for award of the CIB; MOS 746 (Automatic [BAR] Rifleman) was authorized the CIB. The Board, as an exception to policy, accepts the applicant’s word that he served in MOS 746, Automatic Rifleman.

2. There is no way to verify the applicant’s service in Belgium during World War II, thus his WD AGO Form 53-55 cannot be so annotated. However, the Belgian Government did award the applicant’s unit - the 119th Infantry Regiment - the Belgian Fourragere, and this award can be added to his separation document.

3. The applicant’s unit was also cited twice for award of the French Croix de Guerre thereby entitling him to award of the French Fourragere as a personal decoration.

4. The applicant’s unit was cited for award of the MUC for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services for at least 6 continuous months during the period of military operations against an armed enemy occurring on or after 1 January 1944.

5. Finally, the applicant is entitled to award of the BSM for meritorious service in military operations against an armed enemy by virtue of his having been awarded the CIB. He is also authorized the WWII Victory Medal and two BSS for wear on his EAME Campaign Medal.

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6. In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by issuing to the individual concerned a DD Form 215 (Correction to WD AGO Form 53-55 to show:

a.       In Item 30, that he served in MOS 746 (Automatic Rifleman).

b. In Item 33, the BSM, the World War II Victory Medal, the MUC, the Belgian Fourragere, the French Fourragere, and 2 BSS's for wear on his EAME Campaign Medal.

2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:

__AAO__ __HOF__ __TEO__ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION




                  _ Arthur A. Omartian___
                  CHAIRPERSON

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INDEX

CASE ID	AR2001065594
SUFFIX
RECON
DATE BOARDED	20020430
TYPE OF DISCHARGE
DATE OF DISCHARGE
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY
DISCHARGE REASON
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS
REVIEW AUTHORITY	DASA
ISSUES 1.	100.0500
2.	107.0014
3.	107.0034
4.	107.0066
5.	107.0096
6.	107.0097