| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Beverly A. Young | Analyst |
| Mr. Walter T. Morrison | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Linda Simmons | Member | |
| Mr. Frank C. Jones | Member |
2. The applicant requests correction of his records to show he was awarded marksmanship badges for qualification as Expert with the Rifle and for qualification as Sharpshooter with the Carbine. He also requests correction of his records to show three "battle stars" (currently known as bronze service stars).
3. The applicant states that his "rifle range badges" should have been the Expert Badge for qualifying with the Rifle and the Sharpshooter Badge for qualifying with the Carbine. He contends that he served from Port Moresby, New Guinea to Fukouka, Japan and received only one battle star. He claims that "others" have three stars. In support of his application, he submitted a supplemental letter, and a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation).
4. The applicant was a member of the Army Air Force at the time of his discharge on 8 February 1946. Under the 10 September 1957 Memorandum of Understanding between the Executive Secretary of the Air Force Board for the Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR) and the Executive Secretary of the Army Board for the Correction of Military Records (ABCMR), this case falls within the jurisdiction of the AFBCMR. However, by mutual agreement of the ABCMR and the AFBCMR, the ABCMR will consider this case because the request of the applicant for marksmanship qualifications badges is directly related to badges which are peculiar to the Army. Additionally, the campaign credit for the applicant's unit is covered in Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register), not in Air Force records.
5. The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973. Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show that he was inducted in the Army Air Force on 10 February 1943 and entered active service on 17 February 1943. He completed training as an automotive and diesel mechanic and served in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations from 3 May 1944 through 21 January 1946. The applicant was honorably discharged on 8 February 1946. Item 31 (Military Qualification and Date) on his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he qualified as Sharpshooter with the Rifle.
6. There is no evidence available to the Board which shows the applicant met the requirements for qualification as Expert with the Rifle or Sharpshooter with the Carbine.
7. Item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) on the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he received credit for participation in New Guinea.
8. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 shows, among other information, campaign credit during World War II. This document shows that the applicant's unit, the 1537th Ordnance Supply and Maintenance Company, received campaign credit for the New Guinea Campaign.
9. The Board noted that the applicant is entitled to award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp and the World War II Victory Medal which are not shown on his discharge document.
10. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 shows that the applicant's unit received occupation credit for Okinawa from 25 September to 19 December 1945 and for Japan from 20 December 1945 to 5 March 1946.
11. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), in pertinent part, sets forth requirements for award of basic marksmanship qualification badges. The qualification badge is awarded to indicate the degree in which an individual has qualified in a prescribed record course, and an appropriate bar is furnished to denote each weapon with which the individual has qualified. The qualification badges are in three classes: Expert, Sharpshooter, and Marksman.
12. Army Regulation 600-8-22 authorizes a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation and states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate campaign or service medal including the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Service Medal.
13. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the World War II Victory Medal. It is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946, both dates inclusive.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The Board considered the applicant's request for correction of his records to show marksmanship badges for qualification as Expert with the Rifle and for qualification as Sharpshooter with the Carbine.
2. The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar as an authorized award.
3. There is no evidence of record, and the applicant has provided no evidence which shows he qualified as Expert with the Rifle or that he qualified as Sharpshooter with the Carbine. Therefore, there is no basis for awarding the applicant marksmanship badges for qualification as Expert with the Rifle and for qualification as Sharpshooter with the Carbine.
4. The Board considered the applicant's request for three "battle stars" based on his service in Port Morseby, New Guinea to Fukouka, Japan.
5. The Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 shows that the applicant's unit only received campaign credit for participation in the New Guinea Campaign. Therefore, in accordance with the governing regulation, the applicant is entitled to one bronze service star to be worn on his Asiatic-Pacific Theater Service Medal.
6. While the applicant was assigned to the 1537th Ordnance Supply and Maintenance Company, the unit received occupation credit for Okinawa and Japan. Therefore, the applicant is entitled to award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp and correction of his records to show this award.
7. The applicant served a period of qualifying service for award of the World War II Victory Medal; therefore, his WD AGO Form 53-55 will be corrected to show this award.
8. In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:
a. by deleting the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Service Ribbon from item 33 (Decorations and Citations) on the WD Form 53-55 of the individual concerned; and
b. by adding award of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Service Medal with one bronze service star, the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp and the World War II Victory Medal to item 33 on his WD AGO Form 53-55.
2. That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.
BOARD VOTE:
WTM____ LDS____ FCJ_____ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
Walter T. Morrison____
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2002078729 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20030306 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | YYYYMMDD |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT IN PART |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | Mr. Schneider |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.0000 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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