RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 17 April 2008
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20070018799
I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.
Director
Analyst
The following members, a quorum, were present:
Chairperson
Member
Member
The Board considered the following evidence:
Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records.
Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including advisory opinion, if any).
THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:
1. The applicant requests correction of his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge (WD AGO Form 53-55) to show his military occupational specialty as a "glider troop" instead of "supply clerk."
2. The applicant states that he was never a supply clerk. He took five flights to become qualified as a glider troop.
3. The applicant provides a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55.
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicants failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicants failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing.
2. The applicant's military records are not available to the Board for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. It is believed that his records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 is sufficient documentation for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case.
3. The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows that he entered the Army of the United States on 7 May 1943 and served in four campaigns in the European Theater of Operations.
4. Item 30 (MOS) of the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the applicant's MOS as supply clerk.
5. Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) of the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 includes award of the Glider Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, and a Purple Heart.
6. On 17 November 1945, the applicant was separated from active duty. His characterization of service was honorable. He had attained the rank of private first class and had completed 2 years, 6 months, and 11 days of creditable active service.
7. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides, in pertinent part, that the Glider Badge was awarded prior to 3 May 1961, for satisfactory completion of prescribed proficiency tests, or by participation in at least one combat glider landing into enemy-held territory.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. The available evidence clearly shows that the applicant was awarded the Glider Badge indicating that he was either trained to be a glider troop or had completed at least one combat glider landing into enemy-held territory. Furthermore, his awards of the Combat Infantryman Badge and Purple Heart strongly indicate that he served in direct combat while in the European Theater of Operations.
2. However, the evidence is insufficient to show that at the time of his discharge he held a glider troop MOS or any MOS other than that of a supply clerk.
3. 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 the aforementioned requirement.
4. In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
_ TSK __ ___JLP__ __DWT__ DENY APPLICATION
BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:
The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.
_______TSK__________
CHAIRPERSON
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20070018799
2
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
1901 SOUTH BELL STREET 2ND FLOOR
ARLINGTON, VA 22202-4508
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070002197
The applicant provides a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge), with an effective date of 9 November 1945; Headquarters, 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion (European Theater of Operations), General Orders Number 6, dated 10 May 1945; and Housing and Community Services Department, Veterans Service Office, Santa Ana, California, letter, dated 2 October 2007. The applicant's military service records are not available to the Board for...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120008298
The applicant requests correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge) to show he was awarded the: * Bronze Star Medal under the provisions of Executive Order 9419, dated 4 February 1944 * Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp * Combat Medical Badge 2. He states he was never awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, or Combat Medical Badge for his service as a medic while assigned to Headquarters,...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002079738C070215
I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual. The applicant requests, in effect, correction of item 6 (Organization) on his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) to show Company G, 187th Glider Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division. The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55, which was authenticated in his own hand, does not show the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050014020C070206
The applicant requests that his discharge document be corrected to show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, World War II Victory Medal, Master Jump-wings, and Glider Badge. There are no orders in the applicant's service records, which show that he was awarded the Glider Badge, and the applicant has not provided any evidence to show that he is entitled to award of the Glider Badge. The evidence shows that the applicant's record contains administrative errors that do not require action by...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2009 | 20090001344
The applicants military records are not available to the Board for review. Item 31 (Military Qualifications and Date) of the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 does not show award of the CIB. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by showing he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120008250
The applicant requests correction of his records to show award of the French Fourragere and all other authorized awards. The applicant's military service records are not available to the Board for review. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. issuing orders awarding the applicant the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) for the period 7 December 1942 to 11 October 1945 (Standard Name Line: PFC 327th Glider...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2008 | 20080012076
The applicant requests in effect, that the records of his deceased father, a former service member (FSM), be corrected to show he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) for valor, the Silver Star (SS), Purple Heart (PH) with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster (2nd Award), and Glider Infantry Badge; to show his eligibility for the French Fourragere, Belgian Fourragere, Netherlands Order of William, Belgium Order of the Day, and Netherlands Orange Lanyard; and that he be issued award certificates for the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2002 | 2002076619C070215
The applicant requests that his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) be amended to add all awards that were issued to him (i.e., the Silver Star, the Expert Infantryman Badge, two Bronze Star Medals (BSMs) for valor, "Airborne Glider Assault Wings," the Parachutist Badge, the "Army Amphibious Badge," the European-African-Middle Eastern (EAME) Campaign Medal with 3 bronze service stars, the Army of Occupation Medal, and the French Legion of Merit). Department of the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140007767
The applicant states he was assigned to the Americal Division the entire time he was overseas and he came home with the 27th Division and he served in the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) in the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, and Japan. Unfortunately, there was insufficient evidence remaining in his record and he did not provide sufficient documentary evidence to show he was assigned to the Americal Division immediately prior to his transfer to the separation activity listed on his WD...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2004 | 20040002943C070208
The applicant requests, in effect, reconsideration of his earlier request to correct his military records by adding the Glider Badge and the Glider Training Course, to his WD AGO Form 53-55. In the applicant's original request to the Board for correction of his records, he stated that he had been awarded the Glider Badge but it was not included, in effect, in Item 31 of his separation document. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual...