PROCEEDINGS


         IN THE CASE OF:
        

         BOARD DATE: 11 March 2003
         DOCKET NUMBER: AR2002079908


         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. Beverly A. Young		Analyst

The following members, a quorum, were present:

Mr. Samuel A. Crumpler		Chairperson
Ms. Shirley Powell		Member
Mr. Ted S. Kanamine		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) to show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Bronze Star Medal.

3. The applicant states that he received the Bronze Star Medal, but it is not listed on his WD AGO Form 53-55. In support of his application, he submitted a copy of a DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 22 November 1991, an award certificate for the Bronze Star Medal and his WD AGO
Form 53-55.

4. The applicant’s military records were destroyed or lost 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 on 18 June 1943 and entered active duty on 2 July 1943. He completed training as a rifleman and served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 29 July 1944 to 16 August 1945. The applicant was honorably discharged from active duty on 17 November 1945.

5. The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show the Combat Infantryman Badge or the Bronze Star Medal as authorized awards.

6. The applicant provided a copy of a DA Form 1577, dated 22 November 1991, which shows, among several awards, that he was issued the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Bronze Star Medal (based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge). However, the DA Form 1577 is not sufficient as a basis for correction of military records.

7. The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded military occupational specialty (MOS) 745 (Rifleman) and was assigned to Company F, 326th Glider Infantry Regiment during World War II.

8. The applicant provided a copy of an award certificate, dated 13 November 1991, which shows he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in ground combat against the armed enemy during World War II in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations. The DD Form 1577 shows that this Bronze Star Medal was issued based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.

9. The Board noted that the applicant is entitled to award of the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with one bronze service star which is not shown on his discharge document.

10. Item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) on the applicant’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he received credit for participation in the Central Europe campaign.

11. War Department Circular 269-1943 established the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Expert Infantryman Badge to recognize and provide an incentive to infantrymen. The Expert Infantryman Badge was to be awarded for attainment of certain proficiency standards or by satisfactory performance of duty in action against the enemy. The Combat Infantryman Badge was awarded for exemplary conduct in action against the enemy. War Department Circular 186-1944 further provided that the Combat Infantryman Badge 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 Combat Infantryman Badge was normally awarded only to enlisted individuals who served in the following positions:

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)

12. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) in pertinent part, states 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. This provision did not go into effect until 10 September 1947 when Change 12 to Army Regulation 600-45 (Decorations) was published.

13. Army Regulation 600-8-22 authorizes a bronze service star, based on qualifying service, for each campaign listed in Appendix B of this regulation, or in item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of the WD AGO Form 53-55. The regulation also states that authorized bronze service stars will be worn on the appropriate campaign or service medal including the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

CONCLUSIONS:

1. The applicant was awarded MOS 745 and served in an infantry unit in combat during World War II; therefore, he was eligible for award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. In view of the applicant's combat record as a rifleman and award of the Purple Heart, the Board has determined that the applicant is entitled to correction of his records to show this badge.

2. Based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge as cited in paragraph 1, above, the applicant is also entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal. Therefore, his records will be corrected to show this decoration.

3. The applicant's WD AGO 53-55 shows the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal as an authorized award. However, evidence of record shows he received credit for participation in the Central Europe campaign while assigned in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations. Therefore, in accordance with the governing regulation, the applicant is entitled to correction of his records to show one bronze service star to be worn on his European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal.

4. 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:

a. by deleting the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal from item 33 (Decorations and Campaigns) on the WD AGO Form 53-55 of the individual concerned; and

b. by adding award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with one bronze service star to item 33 on his WD AGO Form 53-55.

BOARD VOTE:

SAC_____ SP_____ TSK_____ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION




                  Samuel A. Crumpler____
                  CHAIRPERSON

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INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002079908
SUFFIX
RECON	YYYYMMDD
DATE BOARDED	20030311
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .
DISCHARGE REASON
BOARD DECISION	GRANT PLUS
REVIEW AUTHORITY	Mr. Schneider
ISSUES 1.	107.0000
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.