| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Richard P. Nelson | Analyst |
| Mr. Thomas B. Redfern | Chairperson | |
| Ms. Linda D. Simmons | Member | |
| Mr. John T. Meixell | Member |
2. The applicant requests, in effect, award of two additional bronze service stars to reflect combat service in the Anzio and Ardennes-Alsace campaigns during World War II in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations. The applicant also requests award of the bronze arrowhead device, denoting participation in an amphibious assault landing in Southern France.
3. The applicant states that his discharge records do not reflect credit for participation in the Anzio and Ardennes-Alsace campaigns, nor for his participation in the amphibious assault landing in Southern France.
4. The available records show that the applicant was commissioned and entered active duty 27 June 1941. He completed Rifle and Heavy Weapons Training and Communications Training at Fort Benning, GA. He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 14 February 1944 to
31 October 1945 and was released from active duty on 25 January 1946. The applicant then served in the Ready Reserve until 25 July 1967. He was placed on the retired list upon reaching age 60 on 2 December 1975.
5. The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-98 (Military Record and Report of Separation, Certificate of Service) does not show in item 28 (Battles and Campaigns) entitlement to campaign stars for either Anzio or Ardennes-Alsace. Neither item 29 (Decorations and Citations) nor item 43 (Remarks) of the WD AGO Form 53-55 reflects award of the bronze arrowhead device.
6. The applicant’s WD AGO Form 66-1 (Officer’s and Warrant Officer’s Qualification Card) indicates that he was assigned to the 157th Infantry Regiment from 7 March 1944 through 3 March 1945.
7. DA Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, indicates that the 157th Infantry Regiment was credited with service during the Anzio campaign from 22 January 1944 through 24 May 1944 and the Ardennes-Alsace campaign from 16 December 1944 through 25 January 1945. The pamphlet further indicates that eligible members of the 157th Infantry Regiment were entitled to a bronze arrowhead device for amphibious assault landings in Southern France during the period 15 to 16 August 1944.
8. The applicant’s records contain a letter dated 4 May 1945, in which the applicant’s commander requested award of Battle Participation Stars and Arrowhead for the applicant.
9. The Board noted that, while the applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge under GO 3, Headquarters, 157th Infantry Regiment, award of the Bronze Star is not reflected in applicant’s WD WGO Form 53-98.
10. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), in pertinent part, authorizes award of 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 service medal. If a soldier participates in five campaigns, then a silver service star is awarded in lieu of five bronze service stars.
11. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for the “arrowhead” to be worn on the appropriate service medal to denote participation in a combat parachute jump, helicopter assault landing, combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing while assigned or attached as a member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission. The regulation specifies that individual assault credit be tied directly to the combat assault credit decision for the unit to which the soldier is assigned. The regulation requires that the unit must be credited with a combat assault in order for the soldier to receive credit for a combat assault and the soldier must physically exit the aircraft or the watercraft as appropriate. The regulation also specifies that the arrowhead is authorized for wear on the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
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.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The Board considered the applicant's request for award of two additional bronze service stars.
2. Evidence of record shows that the applicant's unit received campaign credit for participation in both the Anzio and Ardennes-Alsace campaigns. Therefore, the applicant is entitled to correction of his records to show two additional bronze service stars, for a total of six bronze service stars, correctly shown as one silver service star and one bronze service star.
3. The Board also considered the applicant’s request for award of the bronze arrowhead device denoting participation in an assault landing in Southern France during the period 15 to 16 August 1944.
4. Evidence of record shows that he participated in the amphibious assault into Southern France on 15-16 August 1944; therefore, he is entitled to award of the bronze arrowhead device and correction of his records to show this device.
5. The applicant's records show that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. Therefore the applicant is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal based on award of this Combat Infantryman Badge and correction of his records to show this decoration.
6. In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.
| CASE ID | AR2002082096 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20030501 |
| 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. | 107.0000.0000 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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