BOARD DATE:	  5 May 2011

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20100026002 


THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE:

1.  Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any).

2.  Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any).


THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant, the son of a former service member (FSM), requests correction of the FSM's records to show award of the French Fourragere.

2.  The applicant states that the FSM was assigned to the 1st Signal Company, 1st Infantry Division, and he participated in the amphibious assault landing on Omaha Beach in France on "D-Day" (6 June 1944).  He states that, although his father's discharge papers show the 99th Signal Company, he recalls his father showing him a shoulder braid with green piping that the FSM was awarded while he was assigned to the 1st Signal Company, where he spent most of his time.  He adds he would also like copies of his father's award certificates, such as the Bronze Star Medal.

3.  The applicant provides copies of the FSM's death certificate, his birth certificate, a personnel roster and congratulatory message, the FSM's Army Separation Qualification Record and discharge document, and a document on American units awarded the fourragere during World Wars I and II.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The FSM's military service 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 the FSM's records were lost or destroyed in that fire.  However, there were sufficient documents remaining in a reconstructed record for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case.
2.  The FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge) shows he was inducted and entered active service in the Army of the United States on 6 February 1942 and he was honorably discharged on 6 October 1945.  He had completed 6 months and 3 days of continental service, and 3 years, 1 month, and 28 days of foreign service.  It also shows in:

   a.  item 3 (Grade) – "TEC 4" (i.e., Technician Fourth Class);

   b.  item 6 (Organization) he was assigned to the 99th Signal Company;

   c.  item 30 (Military Occupational Specialty [MOS] and Number) - "Radio Operator 766";

   d.  item 31 (Military Qualification and Date) the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Submachine Gun;

   e.  item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) the Algeria-French Morocco, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Sicily, and Tunisia campaigns;

   f.  item 33 (Decorations and Citations) the Bronze Star [Medal], Distinguished Unit Badge [Citation], European-African-Middle Eastern Service [Campaign] Medal, and [Army] Good Conduct Medal; and

   g.  item 36 (Service Outside Continental U.S. and Return) that he departed the United States on 2 August 1942, arrived in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) on 7 August 1942, departed the ETO on 19 September 1945, and arrived in the U.S. on 29 September 1945.

3.  In support of his application, the applicant provides the following documents:

   a.  A declassified U.S. Army, Embarkation Personnel Roster, undated, that shows the FSM was a member of the 1st Signal Company [then] located at Bryanston Camp, England.

   b.  Headquarters, U.S. 1st Infantry Division, letter, dated 18 July 1945, Subject:  Congratulatory Message, to the Commanding Officer, 1st Signal Company, that congratulated the officers and men of the 1st Signal Company on the anniversary of the unit's Organization Day for:

       (1)  after landing in Africa at Arzew on 8 November 1942, providing communications needed for the assault upon Oran, the Kasserine Pass operation, and during the actions at Gafsa, El Guettar, Beja, and Matuer;

       (2)  participating throughout the hard Sicilian campaign from the assault landing at Gela through to Troina;

       (3)  after landing on the beach during the Normandy invasion on 6 June 1944, establishing and maintaining communications from shore to ship and to all 1st U.S. Infantry Division units; and

       (4)  rising to the occasion during the Battle of Mons, Belgium, and during the fierce struggle for Aachen, Germany.

   c.  The FSM's Army Separation Qualification Record that shows he held MOS 766 (Radio Operator), attained the grade of Tec 4, and served 37 months overseas in the ETO.

   d.  A 2-page printout from the Wikipedia encyclopedia that lists American units that were awarded the fourragere during World Wars I and II.  It shows the 1st Signal Company, 1st Infantry Division, was awarded the Fourragere for its participation in the Normandy invasion in 1944.

4.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register), dated 6 July 1961, lists the unit awards received by units and campaign participation of units serving in World War II.  This document shows that:

   a.  The 1st Signal Company, 1st Infantry Division:

       (1)  participated in the Algeria-French Morocco, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Sicily (Ground), and Tunisia (Ground) campaigns;

       (2)  was cited for award of the Presidential Unit Citation (formerly known as the Distinguished Unit Citation) for actions from 6 June 1944 through 25 January 1945 by Department of the Army General Orders (DAGO) 42 (1953);

       (3)  was cited for award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation for service from 25 January through 25 March 1945 by Headquarters, 1st Infantry Division, General Orders 164, dated 4 September 1945;

       (4)  received credit for combat assault landings at:

* Oran, North Africa, 8-10 November 1942, by DAGO 70 (1945)


* Sicily, 9-11 July 1943, by DAGO 70 (1945)
* Normandy, 6-7 June 1944, by DAGO 70 (1945)

       (5)  was awarded the French Fourragere in the colors of the Medaille Militaire [red and green] for actions from 1 January to 3 April 1943, and on 6 June 1944, by DAGO 43 (1950); and

       (6)  was awarded the Belgian Fourragere for actions from 3-5 September 1944, and 28-30 December 1944, by DAGO 43 (1950).

   b.  The 99th Signal Company, 99th Infantry Division:

       (1)  participated in the Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe, and Rhineland campaigns;

       (2)  was cited for award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation for service from 10 September 1944 through 10 March 1945 by Headquarters, 99th Infantry Division, General Orders 30, dated 20 March 1945;
   
       (3)  was awarded the Belgian Fourragere for actions from 18 November through 15 December 1944, and from 16 December 1944 through 20 February 1945, by DAGO 43 (1950); and

       (4)  was awarded occupation credit for Germany from 2 May through
4 September 1945.

5.  War Department Technical Manual 12-235 (Enlisted Personnel - Discharge and Release from Active Duty), dated January 1945, provides uniform procedures in discharging or releasing personnel from active duty.  The instructions for completing the WD AGO Form 53-55 states that the form is completed from the Service Record, Soldier's Qualification Card, Immunization Register, and information ascertained by interview with the dischargee. Paragraph 24 (Entries on Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) shows for item 6 enter the last unit, or similar element to which Soldier was assigned, rather than the element of which he was a part while moving to a separation activity.  Designation of the organization will be precisely as indicated in the Service Record.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning military awards and decorations.

	a.  The French Fourragere is an approved foreign unit award.  The French Fourragere may be awarded by the French Government when a unit has been cited twice for award of the French Croix de Guerre.  When a unit is cited twice for the Croix de Guerre, the colors of the fourragere are red and green.  When a unit is cited four times, the colors of the fourragere are yellow and green.  Award of the fourragere is not automatic and requires a decree by the French Government, and persons who were only in one action are not authorized to wear the fourragere.  When a unit was cited only one time for award of the French Croix de Guerre there was no individual device, medal, or ribbon authorized for wear by members of the unit.  

	b.  The Belgian Fourragere is an approved foreign unit award.  The Belgian Fourragere may be awarded by the Belgian Government when a unit has been cited twice in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army.  The award of the Belgian Fourragere is not automatic and requires a special decree by the Belgian Government.  Persons who were present in only one action are not authorized to wear the fourragere.  The Belgian Fourragere is composed of one round cord partially braided and of two other cords; all threads are tinted in colors resembling the ribbon of the Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 (i.e., basic red, dotted with green threads).
 
	c.  The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is awarded for service within the European-African-Middle Eastern theater between 7 December 1941 and 8 November 1945.  This medal is awarded to any service member who was permanently assigned in the theater, who was in a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days, or who was in active combat against the enemy and was awarded a combat decoration, or who was furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps or higher unit or independent force showing that he actually participated in combat.

       (1)  A bronze service star is authorized for wear on the ribbon based on qualifying service for each campaign listed in DA Pamphlet 672-1 (Appendix B). A silver service star is authorized in lieu of five bronze service stars.

	    (2)  The "arrowhead" device is authorized for wear on the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal to denote 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.  The unit must be credited with a combat assault in order for the Soldier to receive credit for a combat assault and the Soldier must physically exit the aircraft or the watercraft, as appropriate.  Only one "arrowhead" device is authorized for wear on the ribbon regardless of the number of assault landing credits.

   d.  Table B-1 contains a list of World War II campaigns and lists the ETO campaigns relevant to this case and their corresponding dates, as follows:
   
* Algeria - French Morocco  (8 - 11 November 1942)
* Tunisia Air/Ground (12 November 1942 - 13 May 1943) / (17 November 1942 - 13 May 1943)
* Sicily Air/Ground  (14 May - 17 August 1943) / (9 July - 17 August 1943)
* Normandy  (6 June - 24 July 1944)
* Northern France  (25 July - 14 September 1944)
* Rhineland  (15 September 1944 - 21 March 1945)
* Ardennes - Alsace  (18 December 1944 - 25 January 1945)
* Central Europe  (22 March - 11 May 1945)
   
   e.  Award elements:

       (1)  Chapter 3 (Individual U.S. Army Decorations), paragraph 3-21, provides rules for preparing Army award certificates and shows, in pertinent part, that an award certificate is authorized for the Bronze Star Medal.

       (2)  Chapter 4 (Good Conduct Medal), paragraph 4-10 (Army Good Conduct Medal certificate policy), shows the DA Form 4950 (Good Conduct Medal Certificate) may only be presented to enlisted Soldiers concurrent with the first award of the Army Good Conduct Medal earned on or after 1 January 1981.

       (3)  Chapter 5 (Service Medals and Service Ribbons), paragraph 5-1, shows that orders are not published for service medals and there are no certificates issued; however, they are annotated on records by the personnel officer.

       (4)  Chapter 7 (United States Unit Awards), paragraph 7-7, shows that individual unit awards are announced in orders.  It also shows, in pertinent part, that an emblem is authorized for wear on the uniform for the Presidential Unit Citation and Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), along with any authorized appurtenances for wear on the unit award emblems.  Unit award elements
(e.g., certificates and citations) are issued to the unit; they are not issued to the unit's Soldiers.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant contends that the FSM's records should be corrected to show award of the French Fourragere because he was assigned to the 1st Signal Company, 1st Infantry Division, while serving in the ETO.  He also requests award certificates for his father's decorations.

2.  The FSM's discharge document shows the last unit to which he was assigned [emphasis added] was the 99th Signal Company; however, this does not mean that the FSM was not assigned to the 1st Signal Company.  In fact, the Embarkation Personnel Roster for the 1st Signal Company confirms the FSM was assigned to the 1st Signal Company while he was serving in the ETO.

3.  Records show the FSM served in the ETO from 7 August 1942 through
19 September 1945.  A comparison of campaign credit for the two units in question shows the 99th Signal Company was credited with campaign participation in three ETO campaigns spanning the period from 18 December 1944 through 11 May 1945; whereas the 1st Signal Company was credited with campaign participation in eight ETO campaigns spanning the period from
8 November 1942 through 11 May 1945.  In addition, the FSM's discharge document shows he received campaign participation credit for the same 8 ETO campaigns for which the 1st Signal Company was credited with campaign participation.  Thus, it is concluded that the FSM served with the 1st Signal Company in the ETO, at least [emphasis added] from 8 November 1942 through 11 May 1945.

4.  General orders awarded the FSM's unit the Meritorious Unit Commendation. Therefore, it would be appropriate to correct his records to show this unit award.

5.  The FSM's unit was cited twice for award of the French Croix de Guerre.  Therefore, it would be appropriate to correct his records to show the French Fourragere.

6.  The FSM's unit was cited twice in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army. Therefore, it would be appropriate to correct his records to show the Belgian Fourragere.

7.  The FSM was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal for his service in the ETO and he participated in eight campaigns.  In addition, the evidence of record shows his unit was granted assault landing credit on three occasions.  Therefore, it would be appropriate to correct his records to show award of the "arrowhead" device to be affixed on his already-awarded European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, along with one silver service star and three bronze service stars.

8.  Records show that general orders awarded the FSM the Bronze Star Medal; however, a copy of the general orders is not available for review.  Nonetheless, it would be appropriate to issue a Bronze Star Medal Certificate showing the award.

BOARD VOTE:

____x_  ____x____  ____x____  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by:

	a.  deleting from item 33 of the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 the "EUROPEAN AFRICAN MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICE MEDAL";

   b.  adding to item 33 of the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with "arrowhead" device, one silver service star and three bronze service stars; the Meritorious Unit Commendation; French Fourragere; and Belgian Fourragere; and
   
   c.  issuing a DA Form 4980-5 (Bronze Star Medal Certificate) for meritorious achievement in the European Theater of Operations from 6 June through
14 September 1944.




      _______ _   x_______   ___
               CHAIRPERSON
      
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20100026002



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20100026002



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