| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Ms. Wanda L. Waller | Analyst |
| Ms. Jennifer L. Prater | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Arthur A. Omartian | Member | |
| Mr. Patrick H. McGann | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: Reconsideration of his earlier appeal to correct his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to include North Africa in item 32 (Battles and Campaign) and one additional bronze service star to be affixed to the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal in item 33 (Decorations and Citations).
APPLICANT STATES: In effect, that he is entitled to one additional bronze service star for the North African Campaign.
COUNSEL: The American Legion, as counsel for the applicant, notes that the applicant provided a six-page journal which includes a retired colonel's personal account of the actions of the 261st Medical Battalion from its activation on
15 June 1942 to its deactivation and disbanding on 28 January 1945. The account describes the maneuvers of this unit and its redesignation as the 98th Battalion. Counsel points out that the personal account describes the service locations of the unit but is not authenticated; however, it is supported by a previous news letter submitted by the applicant for the same award. Counsel also points out that the 1st Engineer Special Brigade Association Newsletter, dated July 1994 lists the 261st Medical Battalion as part of the 531st Engineer Shore Regiment and illustrates Africa as part of the letterhead.
NEW EVIDENCE OR INFORMATION: Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the Memorandum of Consideration prepared to reflect the consideration of Docket Number AR1999032453 by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) on 3 August 2000.
On 12 October 2000, a request for reconsideration was considered and denied by the ABCMR (Docket Number AR2000046661).
On 18 April 2001, a request for reconsideration was reviewed by the ABCMR and the staff determined that the applicant had not provided any new evidence and his request was closed without action.
The applicant submits an excerpt from the First Reunion Journal of the 261st Medical Battalion, dated 1989, which contains personal observations of a retired colonel. The applicant has highlighted a caption which reads, "We are entitled to 5 battle stars, and arrowhead an unit citation." The excerpt indicates that the 261st Medical Battalion served in North Africa in the following locations, Arzew, Algeria, Tunis, and Tunisia. However, this excerpt also shows that the 261st Medical Battalion was awarded campaign credit for Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Normandy, and Northern France.
The applicant’s submission is new evidence and will be considered by the Board.
Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Credit Register) dated 6 July 1961, shows, among other information, campaign credit during World War II. This document shows that the 261st Medical Battalion was awarded campaign credit for Naples-Foggia, Normandy, Northern France, Rome-Armo, and Sicily.
DISCUSSION: Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:
1. In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust. The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy this requirement.
2. The Board considered the applicant's contention that he is entitled to one additional bronze service star for the North African Campaign. The Board also reviewed the excerpt provided in support of his claim which indicated the 261st Medical Battalion served in North Africa. However, the Board noted that this excerpt shows the 261st Medical Battalion was not awarded campaign credit for an African campaign. In addition, Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 shows that the 261st Medical Battalion was awarded campaign credit for Naples-Foggia, Normandy, Northern France, Rome-Arno, and Sicily. The applicant may very well have been in North Africa, but he is not entitled to campaign credit for an African campaign merely by having served with the 261st Medical Battalion. Based on the foregoing, the Board determined that there is insufficient evidence on which to amend items 32 or 33 on the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55.
3. After review of all the evidence in this case and the latest submission, the Board concluded the applicant has presented no argument or evidence which is sufficient to reverse the previous decisions rendered by the ABCMR in AR1999032453 on 3 August 2000 or AR2000046661 on 12 October 2000.
4. In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.
DETERMINATION: The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
JLP____ AAO____ PHM_____ DENY APPLICATION
Carl W. S. Chun
| CASE ID | AR2003087381 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | Yes |
| DATE BOARDED | 20030923 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | DENY |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 100.0000 |
| 2. | 107.0000 |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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