| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mrs. Joyce A. Hall | Analyst |
| Mr. Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr. | Chairperson | ||
| Ms. Barbara J. Ellis | Member | ||
| Ms. Karen A. Heinz | Member |
2. The applicant requests in effect, that his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge, WD AGO 53-55, be corrected to show the award of the Bronze Star Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and three Battle Stars. In support of his application he submits a copy of General Orders
8, dated 17 April 1945 for the CIB, a copy of his BSM certificate and 2 copies of Authorization for Issuance of Awards, DA Form 1577 dated 6 March 1989 and
25 March 1991.
3. The applicant states, in effect, that he is entitled to three battle stars for his participation in three campaigns; the Watch on the Rhine, The Ruhr Pocket, and the Bavaria. He wants his WD AGO 53-55, corrected to show all of his awards,
medals, and decorations.
4. The applicant’s military records show that he entered the Army of the United States on 25 January 1943.
5. His WD-AGO 53-55, shows that he arrived in the European-African-Middle
Eastern Theater (EAME) of Operations on or about 2 March 1945. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 341st Infantry, 86th Division.
6. The applicant provided a copy of General Orders 8, dated 17 April 1945, from Headquarters, 341st Infantry Regiment, awarding him the Combat Infantryman Badge. The original General Order is filed in his official military personnel service record.
7. The applicant departed the EAME on or about 7 June 1945. Item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of his WD-AGO 53-55 shows that he participated in the Central Europe campaign (22 March through 11 May 1945).
8. He returned to the United States briefly before being reassigned to a unit in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. His WD AGO 53-55 shows that he served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater from 12 September 1945 through 28 January 1946.
9. On 21 February 1946, the applicant was honorably discharged. His WD-AGO 53-55, item 33 (Decorations and Citation) shows as authorized awards the Victory Ribbon (now known as the World War II Victory Medal) the Good Conduct Medal (known as the Army Good Conduct Medal), the American Defense Ribbon (now known as the American Defense Service Medal), the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/1 bronze service star, the
Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon (now known as the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal), 1 Overseas Bar, the Expert Badge w/Rifle Bar, and the Marksman Badge w/Rifle and Carbine Bars. His WD-AGO 53-55 does not show the Bronze Star Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge or 3 Battle Stars (known as service stars.
10. The provided copies of DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards) prepared by the National Personnel Records Center dated 6 March 1989 and 25 March 1991 shows that the applicant was authorized in addition to the awards shown on his WD AGO 53-55, the American Campaign Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Bronze Star Medal.
11. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation credit Register) shows that the 341st Infantry, 86th Division was credited with participating in the Central Europe campaign. The Watch on the Rhine, the Ruhr Pocket, and the Bavaria are not listed campaigns. Therefore, one battle star is authorized for Central Europe.
12. Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides, in pertinent part, that the Bronze Star Medal is awarded for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service in military operations against an armed enemy. The Bronze Star Medal 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 Combat Infantryman Badge or the Combat Medical Badge is considered to be a citation in orders. This means, in effect, that the Bronze Star Medal is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service during World War II.
13. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the American Campaign Medal. This campaign medal is awarded for qualifying service in the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946. Qualifying service includes permanent assignment outside the continental United States, duty as a crewmember aboard a vessel sailing ocean waters for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or duty outside the continental United States as a passenger or in a temporary duty status for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by a corps commander or higher, or service within the continental United States for an aggregate period of one year.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. There is sufficient evidence of record to show that the applicant was awarded the American Campaign Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Bronze Star Medal in addition to the awards shown on his WD AGO 53-55.
2. The applicant contends that he is entitled to three battle stars (three bronze service stars) for participating in three campaigns while serving in the EAME. However, his service record shows and the evidence available to the Board shows entitlement to one battle star for the Central Europe campaign. Therefore,
correction of his WD AGO 53-55 to show three battle stars is not warranted.
3. 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 amending the applicant’s WD AGO 53-55, item 33 be amended to add the American Campaign Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Bronze Star Medal.
BOARD VOTE:
__RVO__ __BJE__ __KAH__ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
___Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr.___
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2002067734 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 2002/10/24 |
| 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. | 107.0014 |
| 2. | 107.0111 |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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