| Mr. Carl W. S. Chun | Director | |
| Mr. Kenneth H. Aucock | Analyst |
| Mr. Walter T. Morrison | Chairperson | |
| Mr. Allen L. Raub | Member | |
| Mr. Kenneth W. Lapin | Member |
THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:
1. The applicant requests that the records of her deceased husband, a former service member (FSM), be corrected to show his date of induction into the Army as 27 January 1942, vice the 27 June 1942 date shown; and that he be awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.
2. The applicant states the induction date [on the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation)] is an administrative error since that form shows that he qualified with the M-1 rifle on 4 June 1942. His Separation Qualification Record (WD AGO Form 100) shows the correct date of induction as 27 January 1942. She states that he would have been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge because of his service in the Philippines and the awards that he received. The FSM's son supports his mother's statements, and also requests that all the FSM's medals be reissued.
3. The applicant provides a copy of the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55, a copy of his WD AGO Form 100, and a copy of his death certificate.
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. The FSM's military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973. Information herein was obtained from the applicant and from reconstructed personnel records.
2. The FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he was inducted into the Army and entered into active service on 27 June 1942, but that he qualified with the M-1 rifle on 4 June 1942. He served in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II, and was awarded the American Theater Ribbon, the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal, the Bronze Arrowhead Medal, and the Victory Medal. That form shows that he was a rifleman with Company K, 155th Infantry, and that he was discharged in the rank of sergeant on 24 December 1945. He had 3 years, 10 months, and 28 days of service.
3. The FSM's WD AGO Form 100 also shows that he was a rifleman, and that he entered active service on 27 January 1942 and was separated on 24 December 1945.
4. The FSM's final payment work sheet (War Department Form 372 A) shows that he received $28.00 in combat infantry pay for the period 1 October 1945 through 24 December 1945.
5. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides instructions concerning the original issue or replacement issue of Army medals, and states that requests will be honored from the primary next of kin of a deceased FSM. No money should be mailed until instructions are received. Replacement of medals should be requested by writing to the National Archives Record Administration, ATTN: NRPMA-M, 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63132.
6. The above mentioned regulation also provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Infantryman Badge is awarded to infantry officers and to enlisted and warrant officer persons who have an infantry MOS. They must have served in active ground combat while assigned or attached to an infantry unit 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.
7. That regulation also provides for award of the Bronze Star Medal 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.
8. The Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register shows that the 155th Infantry Regiment was awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its actions during World War II.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. The date of induction and date of entry into active service, 27 June 1942, as shown on the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55, is an administrative error. The date should be 27 January 1942.
2. The FSM was an infantryman who served in ground combat with an infantry company. His records should reflect award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. By virtue of this award, the FSM was entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal. His records should reflect that award.
3. The FSM's records should also reflect award of the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
4. The applicant should request issue of Army medals to the agency indicated above. The Board will not further address this matter.
BOARD VOTE:
__WTM__ __ALR __ __KWL__ GRANT RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
| CASE ID | AR2003091586 |
| SUFFIX | |
| RECON | YYYYMMDD |
| DATE BOARDED | 20031204 |
| 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. | 100.00 |
| 2. | 107.00 |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. |
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