| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Joseph A. Adriance | Analyst |
| Ms. Kathleen A. Newman | Chairperson | ||
| Ms. Gail J. Wire | Member | ||
| Mr. Patrick H. McGarthy, Jr. | Member |
2. The applicant requests, through his Member of Congress, reconsideration of his request that the military occupational specialty (MOS) title and number listed in Item 30 (Military Occupational Specialty and No.) of his separation document (WD AGO Form 53-55) be corrected.
3. The applicant states, in effect, that he served as a Cannoneer with the
Anti-Tank Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 115th Infantry Regiment, and never served as a Postal Clerk, as is currently indicated in his separation document. In support of his reconsideration request, the applicant provides a third party statement from a fellow soldier who served with him.
4. The Memorandum of Consideration (MOC) of the Board’s 24 January 2002 review of the case (AR2001062662) is incorporated herein by reference as if wholly set forth.
5. The applicant’s submission of a third party statement is new evidence and/or argument that requires Board consideration. The third party statement provided by the applicant is from an individual who states that he served with the applicant when both were members of the same anti-tank gun crew while serving with the 115th Infantry Regiment in Germany during World War II.
6. During its original consideration of this case, the Board determined that there was insufficient evidence to support changing the applicant’s MOS. It based this finding on the fact that applicant’s military records had been lost or destroyed, and he had failed to provide any evidence to show his MOS was Cannoneer instead of Postal Clerk.
7. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 confirms that the applicant served on active duty from 15 April 1943 through 21 January 1946. It also shows that he served in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) from 14 July 1944 through 3 January 1946. This document also shows that his branch of service was Infantry, he was assigned to and served in the 115th Infantry Regiment while in the ETO, and that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge while serving in this unit.
8. In connection with the processing of this reconsideration request, a member of the Board staff reviewed the unit historical files of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, which are maintained at the National Archives. These files failed to show that the applicant ever served as a Postal Clerk, as in indicated in his separation document.
9. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides guidance on the Army awards system. Paragraph 3-13 provides guidance on awarding the Bronze Star Medal. It states, in pertinent part, that the Bronze Star Medal is authorized for each member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after 6 December 1941, has been cited in orders or awarded a certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat against an armed enemy between 7 December 1941 and
2 September 1945, inclusive, or whose meritorious achievement has been other wise confirmed by documents executed prior to 1 July 1947. It further states, that for this purpose, an award of the Combat Infantryman Badge is considered as a citation in orders.
10. Paragraph 8-6 provides guidance on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. It states, in pertinent part, that there are basically three requirements for award of the CIB. The soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and must actively participate in such ground combat.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The Board notes the applicant’s request that Item 30 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 be corrected to show his MOS was Cannoneer instead of Postal Clerk, and in light of the new and latest evidence provided, it finds no reason to doubt its merit.
2. By regulation, in order to be awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, a member must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and must actively participate in such ground combat.
3. There is no specific official record confirmation that the applicant served as a Cannoneer, but there is absolutely no evidence showing that he ever served as a Postal Clerk. Based on the lack of official record confirmation of either MOS, the Board finds the third party statement provided by the applicant, coupled with the fact that available records do confirm that he was member of the Infantry branch of service and earned the CIB, more than sufficiently corroborates the applicant’s assertion that served as a Cannoneer vice a Postal Clerk. Thus, the Board concludes it would be appropriate to grant the requested relief and to correct the record accordingly.
4. In addition, during the review of this case, the Board determined that based on his earning the Combat Infantryman Badge during World War II, the applicant is entitled to receive the Bronze Star Medal for his exemplary conduct in ground combat against an armed enemy during World War II. Thus, the Board concludes it would also be appropriate to award it to him at this time.
5. In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, correcting the applicant’s records as recommended below would correct an error or rectify an injustice.
RECOMMENDATION:
That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by amending Item 30 (Military Occupational Specialty and No.) of the WD AGO Form 53-55 of the individual concerned to read “Cannoneer - 1602” vice Postal Clerk - 056, as is currently listed; by awarding him the Bronze Star Medal for his exemplary service in ground combat between 14 July 1944 and 2 September 1945 ; and by providing him a corrected separation document that reflects these changes.
BOARD VOTE:
__KAN__ __GJW _ __PHM __ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
__Kathleen A. Newman___
CHAIRPERSON
INDEX
| CASE ID | AR2002072937 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | AR2001062662 |
| DATE BOARDED | 2003/01/23 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | Honorable |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | 1946/01/21 |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR 615-365 |
| DISCHARGE REASON | Demobilization |
| BOARD DECISION | Grant Plus |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. 6 | 100.0500 |
| 2. 60 | 107.0014 |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002075788C070403
The Board considered the following evidence: The applicant requests reconsideration of his previous application to correct his military records by awarding him the Purple Heart. The Board notes that the applicant is also entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show this award.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100029255
The applicant, the son of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests award of the Prisoner of War (POW) Medal to his late father and its addition to his father's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge). As such, it would appropriate to correct the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 to show he was a POW from 4 October 1944 to April 1945 in Germany. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2015 | 20150003542
The FSM served a period of qualifying service for award of the World War II Victory Medal; however, this award is not listed on the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 to show he was awarded or authorized the World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp. As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080007674
The applicant requests award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart. The applicant provides the following additional documentary evidence in support of his application: a. WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation-Honorable Discharge), dated 31 January 1946. b. WD AGO Form 100 (Separation Qualification Record), dated 1 February 1946. c. Applicants own chronological order of events. The applicant's reconstructed record does not...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003090535C070212
The applicant’s military records were not available to the Board for review. Paragraph 2-8f of the awards regulation states that for those who became Prisoners of War after 25 April 1962, the PH will be awarded to individuals wounded while prisoners of foreign forces, upon submission by the individual to the Department of the Army of an affidavit that is supported by a statement from a witness, if this is possible. Therefore, it would be appropriate to award the applicant the PH, for being...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002067479C070402
The applicant’s military records were not available to the Board for review. The Board finds the available evidence is sufficiently convincing to support the applicant’s that he served in Company M, 101 st Infantry Regiment, for the majority of his combat service in the ETO during World War II and that the unit currently listed in his separation document was a transitional unit to which he was assigned for separation movement and processing. That all of the Department of the Army records...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090001344
The applicants military records are not available to the Board for review. Item 31 (Military Qualifications and Date) of the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show award of the CIB. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by showing he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130014150
The applicant, the widow of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests correction of the FSMs WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation-Honorable Discharge) to show he was awarded the Prisoner of War (POW) Medal, Bronze Star Medal (BSM), and Purple Heart. The National Archives WWII Prisoners of War Data File, 7 December 1941 to 19 November 1946, lists the FSM as having been captured in the European Theater on 11 July 1944. As a result, the Board recommends that all...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130001456
The applicant, the son of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge) be corrected to show the: * Distinguished Unit Citation (currently known as the Presidential Unit Citation) * French Croix de Guerre with silver star * French Fourragere * Belgian Fourragere * American Defense Service Medal 2. There is no evidence indicating the FSM's units of assignment during WWII were awarded the Belgian...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110021086
The applicant requests correction of his record to add his Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) and to be awarded the Bronze Star Medal (BSM). They also confirmed the applicant received the CIB at the same time they did and the BSM was authorized after the war ended for members of the infantry who held the CIB based on combat service during WWII and they received this award. Although the WD AGO Form 53-55 does not include the CIB, given the applicant held and served in a qualifying infantry MOS...