| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Nancy L. Amos | Analyst |
| Ms. Karol A. Kennedy | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Melvin H. Meyer | Member | |
| Ms. Tracey L. Pinson | Member |
2. The applicant requests that the records of his father, a deceased former service member (FSM) be corrected to reflect award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) based on his award of the Combat Infantryman Badge during World War II.
3. The applicant makes no further statement.
4. The FSM’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire in 1973. Information contained herein was obtained from alternate sources.
5. The FSM initially entered active duty on 9 February 1942. He served in the European Theater of Operations between January 1944 and October 1945 and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment. His WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) indicates he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and participated in the Normandy, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe campaigns.
6. The FSM was honorably discharged on 10 November 1945 as a result of demobilization. In addition to the Combat Infantryman Badge, his WD AGO Form 53-55 indicates he was award the Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, a Bronze Arrowhead, “a Fourragere,” and the Decree of Knight 4th Class (also known as the Netherlands Military Order of William).
7. The Bronze Star Medal was established by Executive Order 9419 dated 4 February 1944. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides for the award of the BSM to any person who distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy. It also provides for award of the BSM to members of the armed forces who, after 6 December 1941 and prior to 3 September 1945, have been cited in orders or in a formal certificate for meritorious or exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy. A citation in orders for the Combat Infantryman Badge or Medical Badge awarded in the field during the period of actual combat against the armed enemy is considered as a citation for exemplary conduct in ground combat.
8. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register), dated 6 July 1961, will show whether or not a World War II unit was authorized occupation credit, thus entitlement to the Army Occupation Medal. It shows the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment was awarded occupation credit for Germany for the period 15 August – 31 October 1945, entitling members to wear the Army of Occupation Medal with “Germany” clasp.
9. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 shows the applicant's unit was credited with two assault landings (one at Normandy in June 1944 and one at Nijmegen-Arnhem in September 1944). In addition to the Netherlands Military Order of William (Degree of Knight 4th Class), his unit was awarded the French Fourragere and the Belgian Fourragere and the Netherlands Orange Lanyard.
10. Army Regulation 600-8-22 also states that a bronze arrowhead denotes 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. Individual assault credit is tied directly to the combat assault credit decision for the unit to which the soldier is assigned or attached at the time of the assault. The arrowhead is worn on the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. However, in the case of multiple awards of the arrowhead, only one arrowhead will be worn.
11. Army Regulation 600-8-22 states that the World War II Victory Medal was established by an act of Congress in July 1945. It is awarded for service between 7 December 1942 and 31 December 1946.
12. Army Regulation 600-8-22 states that one bronze service star is worn on the appropriate service medal for each credited campaign.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The available evidence confirms the FSM was awarded a Combat Infantryman Badge during World War II and therefore is entitled to award of the BSM.
2. The available evidence confirms that the FSM is entitled to two bronze arrowheads, denoting participation in two assault landings, and the Army of Occupation Medal with "Germany" clasp.
3. Based on the FSM’s service with the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment during World War II, he is entitled to both the French Fourragere and the Belgian Fourragere as well as the Netherlands Orange Lanyard.
4. The Board notes that the FSM served on active duty during the period for which the World War II Victory Medal was authorized. His records should be corrected accordingly.
5. The FSM was authorized to wear four bronze service stars on the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.
6. In view of the foregoing, the FSM’s records should be corrected as recommended below.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the FSM’s WD AGO 53-55 be corrected to show he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the French Fourragere and the Belgian Fourragere (in place of “a Fourragere”), the Netherlands Orange Lanyard, the Army of Occupation Medal with "Germany" clasp, the World War II Victory Medal, and to show he was authorized two bronze arrowheads and four bronze service stars for wear on the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal.
BOARD VOTE:
__KAK__ __MHM__ __TLP __ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
__Karol A. Kennedy_______
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2003084180 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | |
| DATE BOARDED | 2003/01/28 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 110.04 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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