| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Kenneth H. Aucock | Analyst |
| Mr. Arthur A. Omartian | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Thomas Lanyi | Member | |
| Mr. Harry B. Oberg | Member |
2. The applicant requests award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.
3. The applicant states that he was wounded in France on 15 March 1945, and while hospitalized, he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. He states that he was a machine gunner with Company E, 254th Infantry Regiment of the 63d Infantry Division. He requests that the award be documented in his records.
4. The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted into the Army on 7 September 1944 and served in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) during World War II. He arrived in the ETO in January 1945. He was wounded in action on 16 March 1945. The applicant returned to the United States in September 1945 and was discharged in the rank of corporal on 27 June 1946. His WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) shows that he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Purple Heart, the World War II Victory Medal, and the American Campaign Medal. It does not show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.
5. The applicant's Separation Qualification Record (WD AGO Form 100) shows that his military occupational assignments during his service were those of a basic infantryman for 4 months, a machine gunner for 11 months, and a military policeman for 6 months.
6. The applicant's final payment worksheet shows that he received combat infantry pay for the period 1 June 1946 to 27 June 1946.
7. On 20 March 2003 the Tioga County Veterans' Service Agency of Owego, New York furnished this agency a partial alphabetical listing of members of the 63d Infantry Division, compiled by a historian of the 63d Division Association. That listing shows that the applicant was assigned to Company E, 254th Infantry Regiment and that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.
8. 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. Additionally, World War II holders of the Combat Infantryman Badge received a monthly pay supplement known as combat infantry pay. Therefore, soldiers had economic as well as intangible reasons to ensure that their records were correct. Thus, pay records are frequently the best available source to verify entitlement to this award.
9. The Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register shows that the 254th Infantry Regiment was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (now the Presidential Unit Citation) for its actions while the applicant was assigned to that organization. It also shows that the 254th served as an occupation force from 2 May through 18 September 1945.
10. The Army of Occupation Medal is awarded for service while assigned to the Army of Occupation of Germany between 9 May 1945 and 5 May 1955. Soldiers who served in the European Theater during the occupation of Europe will wear the clasp inscribed "Germany."
11. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to each member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, after 6 December 1941 has been cited in orders or awarded a certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat against an armed enemy between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. The award of a Combat Infantryman Badge is considered as a citation in orders.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. The fact that the applicant was awarded combat infantry pay bears out his claim that he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. In this respect, the unofficial listing from the 63d Infantry Division Association lends credibility to his claim. The applicant is entitled to award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. By virtue of this award, he is also entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal.
2. The applicant's records do not show that he was assigned to Company E of the 254th Infantry Regiment, as he states. However, there is no reason to dispute this assertion. Again, the unofficial record provided by the 63d Infantry Division Association is supportive in this regard.
3. Consequently, the applicant is also entitled to award of the Presidential Unit Citation and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp.
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 by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp.
BOARD VOTE:
__AAO __ ___TL___ ___HBO_ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
___Arthur A. Omartian______
CHAIRPERSON
| CASE ID | AR2003089854 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20030828 |
| TYPE OF DISCHARGE | (HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR) |
| DATE OF DISCHARGE | YYYYMMDD |
| DISCHARGE AUTHORITY | AR . . . . . |
| DISCHARGE REASON | |
| BOARD DECISION | GRANT |
| REVIEW AUTHORITY | |
| ISSUES 1. | 107.00 |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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