| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Kenneth H. Aucock | Analyst |
| Ms. Jennifer L. Prater | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Barbara J. Ellis | Member | |
| Mr. Thomas Lanyi | Member |
2. The applicant requests reconsideration of his previous applications to correct his military records by awarding him the Purple Heart and the Presidential Unit Citation.
3. The applicant made no statement. His application apparently consists of documents he forwarded showing a copy of a page from a previous Board’s decision, a copy of his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, a copy of a DD Form 215 correcting that record, a copy of a certificate awarding the Presidential Unit Citation to the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion, a copy of a roster, apparently prepared by the 551st Parachute Infantry Association, showing that the applicant had been wounded while assigned to the 551st, and a copy of a notification of an awards ceremony in the Pentagon, which was to have taken place on 23 February 2001. All of these documents were available to the Board in its previous considerations of his case.
4. The Memorandum of Consideration (MOC) of the Board’s 24 May 2000 review of the case (AR1999032426) and the Board’s 19 June 2001 review of the case (AR2001053865) are incorporated herein by reference as if wholly set forth.
5. On 21 November 2001, in a letter to a retired colonel who had intervened on behalf of the applicant, this agency informed that officer that there was no indication that he was representing the applicant in an official capacity, and consequently his request was returned without action (AR2001061014). In his letter to this agency, however, the retired colonel stated that he had served with the applicant while both were members of the 551st and that the applicant was assigned to that unit when it was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its actions.
6. The applicant provides no new evidence not previously available to the Board. However, an analyst of this agency has provided evidence concerning the applicant’s entitlement to the Presidential Unit Citation.
7. Paragraph 1 and 2 of the CONCLUSIONS in the 19 June 2001 Board decision, which denied the applicant’s request for award of the Presidential Unit Citation, indicates that there was no evidence that the applicant was assigned to the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion after 16 August 1944, and that available evidence shows that he was assigned to the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment during the time frame the 551st was credited for extraordinary heroism between 27 December 1944 and 7 January 1945. That decision also indicates that the applicant participated in the Rome-Arno and the Southern France campaigns while assigned to the 551st (both campaigns ended in September 1944), and the Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland, and Central Europe campaigns while assigned to the 504th.
8. The Board notes that the 551st also participated in the Ardennes-Alsace and Rhineland campaigns, as indicated in DA Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register. The dates of the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign are from 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945.
9. The narrative citation awarding the 551st the Presidential Unit Citation indicates that subsequent to the termination of the unit’s actions on 8 January 1945 it was disbanded a month later. A U.S. Army 20 February 2001 news release regarding the ceremony to award the 551st the Presidential Unit Citation shows that the unit was deactivated on 10 February 1945 with its soldiers reassigned to integral units of the 82nd Airborne Division.
10. On 13 November 2001 an analyst of this agency reviewed the files of the 551st located at the Center for Military History. The unit’s morning reports show that the applicant went from a duty status to a sick (non-battle casualty) status on 31 December 1944 and returned to duty on 10 January 1945. A morning report entry shows that the applicant was reassigned to the 504th on 1 February 1945.
11. In a 10 April 2002 correspondence, that same analyst stated that he reviewed the historical files of the 551st, and those files failed to show that the applicant was awarded the Purple Heart.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicant’s submission of documents previously available to this Board does not substantiate that he was wounded in action. There is insufficient evidence to show that he is entitled to award of the Purple Heart.
2. The evidence clearly shows that the applicant was a member of the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion in 1944 and 1945, and immediately prior to being in a sick status on 31 December 1944. It is highly probable that he participated in some of the actions that resulted in the award of the Presidential Unit Citation to the 551st. He only transferred to the 504th on 1 February 1945, prior to the deactivation of the 551st. Consequently, in all fairness and in the interest of justice, the applicant is entitled to award of the Presidential Unit Citation.
3. In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, correcting the applicant’s records as recommended below would rectify an injustice.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for his participation in the actions of the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion.
2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
__JLP __ __BJE __ __TL____ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
___ Jennifer L. Prater___
CHAIRPERSON
INDEX
| CASE ID | AR2002071322 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 20020521 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.00 |
| 2. | 46 |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080014930
The applicant requests correction of his military records to show award of the Purple Heart and the Presidential Unit Citation. The applicant's military records are not available to the Board for review. However, there is no documentation showing that the applicant's unit, the 3rd Battalion of the same regiment, also received the award.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001064158C070421
The applicant requests award of the Presidential Unit Citation. The applicant states that he was a member of the 551 st Parachute Infantry Battalion when it was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its actions in January 1945 during the American counteroffensive in the Ardennes during World War II. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for his participation...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2001 | 2001060477C070421
The applicant’s military records were not available to the Board for review. Also on file is a military record finding report from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), dated 1 August 2001. The Board also finds the available evidence confirms that the applicant served with the 507 th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the ETO and that the unit listed in his separation document was likely a transitional unit to which he was assigned for movement and processing prior to his...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090007400
Therefore, the FSM is eligible for award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge for his service during World War II and correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show this award. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the FSM be corrected by: a. adding to Item 32 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 the Ardennes-Alsace campaign; b. awarding the FSM two bronze service stars to be affixed to his already-awarded European-African-Middle...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140021230
The applicant requests, in effect, correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) to show award of the: * Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp * Combat Infantryman Badge * Presidential Unit Citation * European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars 2. d. Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) shows he was wounded in Europe on 5 April 1945. e. Item 36 (Service Outside Continental United States and...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002070711C070402
While the FSM was assigned to the 195th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion, the unit was cited for award of the Distinguished Unit Citation, therefore, his WD AGO Form 53-55 will be amended to show this award. Evidence of record shows that the FSM's unit received occupation credit for Germany; therefore, he is entitled to the Army Occupation Medal (Germany) and correction of his records to show this award. The Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 shows that the FSM's unit...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130021791
The applicant requests the WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Service) of his deceased uncle, a former service member (FSM), be corrected to show: * A bronze arrowhead and three additional bronze service stars to be affixed to his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal * Presidential Unit Citation 2. Based on award of this badge, he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal and correction of his records to show it. As a result, the Board...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130002243
The applicant's WD AGO Form 24A (Service Record) shows in section 21 (Medals, Decorations, and Citations), he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge effective 23 March 1945 by General Orders Number 12, issued by Headquarters, 19th Armored Infantry Battalion. His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows in: a. item 31 (Military Qualification and Date (i.e., infantry, aviation, and marksmanship badges, etc) he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge on 23 March 1945; b. item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) he...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 2004106585C070208
The applicant requests correction of his Honorable Discharge Certificate and his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation (WD AGO Form 53-55) to show his unit as Battery B, 189th Field Artillery Battalion, 45th Infantry Division; to show that he participated in the Anzio and Ardennes- Alsace campaigns during World War II; and to show award of the Presidential Unit Citation. The Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register shows that the 189th Field Artillery Battalion, 45th...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100030161
The applicant requests correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) to show award of the Bronze Star Medal and two battle stars [currently known as bronze service stars] for participation in the Ardennes-Alsace and Rhineland campaigns. The applicant's military records are not available to the Board for review. - award of the Combat Infantryman Badge * item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) - the Northern France campaign * item 33...