IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 27 October 2011
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20110009876
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 requests correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) to reflect his participation in the Ardennes-Alsace campaign.
2. The applicant states his discharge document reflects participation in five campaigns but lists only four. He states he was a medical driver responsible for transporting surgical teams and equipment to the front when there was an attack or counter-attack and he took many teams to the Battle of the Bulge. He also states the Germans were shooting at him and the surgical teams in his weapons carrier like shooting fish in a barrel. He states he is providing copies of separation documents from two of his friends who were credited with the participation in the Ardennes-Alsace campaign and who were there with him.
3. The applicant provides copies of his separation documents and copies of two others which show participation in the Ardennes-Alsace campaign.
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 applicant's 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 applicant's 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 complete military records are not available for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members' records at the NPRC in 1973. It is believed the applicant's records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, there were sufficient documents remaining in a reconstructed record to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case.
3. The applicant was inducted into the Army of the United States on 22 January 1943. He entered active duty at New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, on 29 January 1943. He completed training as a surgical technician and departed for Scotland on 1 June 1943. He arrived in Scotland on 7 June 1943 and was assigned to the 3d Auxiliary Surgical Group.
4. He departed the European theater of operations on 6 November 1945 and arrived in the continental United States on 13 November 1945. He was transferred to the Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, Pennsylvania, where he was honorably discharged in the rank of private first class.
5. His WD AGO Form 53-55 issued at the time of his discharge shows he was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with five bronze service stars, and World War II Victory Medal. However, it only lists participation in the Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe campaigns (four campaigns).
6. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) shows participation credit was awarded to the
3d Auxiliary Surgical Group for the Ardennes-Alsace campaign for the period 16 December 1944-25 January 1945.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicant's contention that his participation in the Ardennes-Alsace campaign was omitted from his WD AGO Form 53-55 has been noted and appears to have merit.
2. The applicant was assigned to the 3d Auxiliary Surgical Group during the period the unit was awarded campaign credit for participation in the Ardennes-Alsace campaign. However, at the time of his discharge that campaign was not reflected on his WD AGO Form 53-55.
3. Therefore, it is reasonable to presume that the error was simply an administrative oversight and it should be corrected by adding the Ardennes-Alsace campaign to his WD AGO Form 53-55 at this time.
BOARD VOTE:
____X___ ____X___ ____X___ GRANT FULL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:
1. The Board determined the evidence presented is 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 adding the applicant's participation in the Ardennes-Alsace campaign to his WD AGO Form 53-55.
2. The Board wants the applicant and all others to know the sacrifices he made in service to the United States during World War II are deeply appreciated. The applicant and all Americans should be justifiably proud of his service in arms.
____________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) AR20110009876
3
ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20110009876
2
ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
1
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130021791
The applicant requests the WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Service) of his deceased uncle, a former service member (FSM), be corrected to show: * A bronze arrowhead and three additional bronze service stars to be affixed to his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal * Presidential Unit Citation 2. Based on award of this badge, he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal and correction of his records to show it. As a result, the Board...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130014054
The evidence of record shows the FSM's unit was awarded occupation credit for the occupation of Germany. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. adding the Ardennes-Alsace campaign to his WD AGO Form 53-55, and b. adding the following awards to item 33 of his WD AGO Form 53-55: * Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp * World War II Victory Medal * One silver service star affixed to his previously-awarded...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2005 | 20050007243C070206
The applicant's records contain a partially legible Certificate of Disability for Discharge-Report of Medical Board of Officers (WD AGO Form 40). It states, in pertinent part, that in order to award a PH there must be evidence that a member was wounded or injured as a result of enemy action. The evidence of record confirms the applicant was wounded in action in the ETO on 21 March 1945, and awarded the PH in Hospital Center, Camp Edwards GO Number 25 on 4 October 1945.
ARMY | BCMR | CY2007 | 20070015477
The applicants military records are not available to the Board for review. Evidence of record shows that the applicants incorrect Army Serial Number was entered on the certificate that awarded him the Silver Star. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: a. issuing the applicant a new certificate awarding him the Silver Star with his Army Serial Number shown as 12***988; b. deleting the Asiatic-Pacific...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2003 | 2003088691C070403
The applicant requests, in effect, that his WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation – Honorable Discharge, be corrected to add the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign and the recently awarded Bronze Star Medal. The applicant arrived in the United States on 25 October 1945. a. awarding the applicant: a bronze service star, for his participation in the Ardennes Alsace Campaign, to be affixed along with the already-authorized silver service star to his European-African-Middle Eastern...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2014 | 20140018090
The applicant's request for correction of his father's military records to reflect participation in a fifth campaign during World War II, the Ardennes-Alsace campaign, and award of the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with four component bars was carefully considered. Therefore, it would be appropriate to award him the Army Good Conduct Medal (1st Award) at this time and correct his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show this award. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2010 | 20100012249
The applicant requests reconsideration of his earlier request for correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation-Honorable Service) to show a third bronze service star with the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge. The applicant contends he is entitled to correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and a third bronze service star for his participation in the Ardennes-Alsace...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2011 | 20110020947
The applicant requests correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) to: * change item 6 (Organization) from "Company A, 159th Infantry" to "Cannon Company, 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division" * add the following awards, battles, or campaigns: * one arrowhead device * Salerno * Anzio * Bulge (i.e., Ardennes-Alsace) 2. The primary record available to this Board is the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55. As a result, the Board...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2012 | 20120000836
The applicant states: * a third bronze service star should be added to his EAME Campaign Medal * Army records were corrected after his discharge * He was present and active for all days of the 12th Armored Divisions combat duty 3. The applicant's military 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. deleting from item 33 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 the...
ARMY | BCMR | CY2013 | 20130022148
The applicant provides: * WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, Honorable Discharge) with a date of separation of 18 April 1946 * a page from Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) * a microfilm copy of the Morning Report of 18 December 1944 for Headquarters (HQ), 23rd Tank Battalion CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. He was assigned to the 23rd Tank Battalion during the period the unit was awarded occupation credit...