IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  23 February 2012

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20110017065 


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 reconsideration of his earlier request for correction of:

* his Bronze Star Medal (BSM) Certificate to show he served in the Pacific Theater of Operations
* Item 30 (Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) and Number) of his
WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge) to show rifle squad leader instead of supply clerk

2.  As a new issue, he requests correction to his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show the Meritorious Service Medal and the unit citation awarded to the 147th Infantry Regiment.

3.  The applicant states the BSM Certificate he received reads combat in the Asiatic Theater of Operations and should read Pacific Theater of Operations.  He wants a corrected certificate.  Here he is a combat infantryman being a light weapons noncommissioned officer (NCO), rifle squad leader with a BSM, and the Board wants him to retain a supply clerk MOS on his discharge form.

4.  He would appreciate the medals he earned being added to his discharge form.  He is 88 years of age and hopes things can be resolved soon.

5.  He provides:

* A chronology of his military service
* Letter Orders issued by the War Department, The Adjutant General's Office, St. Louis, MO, dated 7 April 1948, awarding him the BSM
* A letter, subject:  Commendation, dated 15 August 1945, notifying the 147th Infantry of a commendation for exceptional and meritorious service from 21 March to 26 July 1945
* A DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards), dated 12 March 2001
* A letter from the Army Review Boards Agency, Case Management Division, dated 3 December 2010
* A DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214), dated 14 December 2010

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20100023196 on 29 March 2011.

2.  The applicant provides copies of a notification of commendation letter, DA Form 1577, a letter from ARBA, and a DD Form 215 as new evidence.  As such, the new evidence warrants consideration by the Board.

3.  The applicant enlisted in the Enlisted Reserve Corps on 2 December 1942.  He entered active service on 2 March 1943.  He was subsequently awarded MOS 745 (rifleman) on 3 July 1943, MOS 566 (duty NCO) on 14 December 1943, and MOS 651 (light weapons NCO) on 18 January 1945.

4.  He served overseas in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations from 21 July 1944 through 7 February 1945.

5.  Item 28 (Record of Current Service) of his WD AGO Form 20 (Soldier's Qualification Card), shows he was assigned to:

* Company G, 147th Infantry Regiment, from 25 August  1944 to 16 August 1945, as a rifleman, duty NCO, and a light weapons NCO
* Headquarters, 63rd Ordnance Group, from 17 August to 11 December 1945, as a light weapons and duty NCO
* 937th Ordnance Heavy Automotive Maintenance, from 12 December 1945 to 18 January 1946, as a light weapons NCO

6.  His WD AGO Form 100 (Separation Qualification Record) shows he served:

* 12 months as an instructor (521)
* 4 months as a supply clerk (835)
* 16 months as a light weapons NCO (1812)

7.  He was honorably discharged in the rank of staff sergeant (S/Sgt)/grade 3 on 15 February 1946, for the convenience of the Government at demobilization.

8.  Item 6 (Organization) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 listed the 147th Infantry and Item 30 (MOS and Number) listed Supply Clerk, 835.

9.  Item 31 (Military Qualification and Date) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 listed the Combat Infantryman Badge.  Item 32 (Battle and Campaigns) of this form shows the entry, "GO 33 WD 45 Ground Combat."  Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 lists the Good Conduct Medal.

10.  He was commissioned in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) on 29 January 1949.  Permanent Orders 17-4, issued by the Office of The Adjutant General, Reserve Components Personnel and Administration Center, St. Louis, MO, dated 21 March 1977, awarded him the Meritorious Service Medal meritorious service for the period 17 January 1969 to 24 February 1977.  He served continuously in the USAR until he was retired in 1977.

11.  On 14 December 2010, he was issued a DD Form 215 which corrected his WD AGO Form 53-55 by adding the:

* BSM
* Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze service star
* American Campaign Medal
* Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp
* World War II Victory Medal
* Expert Infantryman Badge

12.  On 16 June 2011, he was issued a BSM Certificate, dated 1 December 2010, for meritorious achievement in ground combat against the armed enemy during World War II in the Asiatic Theater of Operations.

13.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) does not show his unit, the 147th Infantry Regiment, was cited for award of any unit citations during his period of assignment.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence shows the applicant served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.  He was subsequently awarded the BSM based on his award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.  On 16 June 2011, he was issued a BSM Certificate for meritorious service in the Asiatic Theater of Operations.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his BSM Certificate to show he served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations in lieu of the certificate he was issued on 16 June 2011.

2.  The evidence of record shows he was assigned to the 147th Infantry from 1944 to 1945 as a rifleman.  He also served in the 63rd and 937th Ordnance units from August 1945 to December 1945 as a light weapons NCO.  There is no evidence confirming he was serving as a supply clerk at the time of his discharge.  It is reasonable to presume he continued the duties of a light weapons NCO through his separation for the period ending 15 February 1946.  Therefore, his WD AGO Form 53-55 should be corrected to show his MOS as light weapons NCO, 1812.

3.  The evidence of record also shows he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for the period 17 January 1969 to 24 February 1977.  This award was awarded after his discharge from active service on 15 February 1946.  Therefore, there is no basis for correcting his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show this award.

4.  A review of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 failed to show his unit, the 147th Infantry, was cited for award of any unit citations during his period of assignment.  Therefore, there is an insufficient evidentiary basis for granting this portion of his request.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF

____x___  ____x___  ____x___  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

1.  The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant partial amendment of the ABCMR’s decision in Docket Number AR20100023196, dated 29 March 2011.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by:

* issuing the applicant a new BSM Certificate that shows he served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations in lieu of the BSM Certificate dated 1 December 2010
* correcting Item 31 of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show his MOS as light weapons NCO, 1812

2.  The Board further determined that the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief.  As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to correcting his BSM Certificate to show the Pacific Theater of Operations.

3.  The Board also recommends denial of correcting his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show:

* his Meritorious Service Medal
* a meritorious unit award for the 147th Infantry



      ___________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)                                         AR20110017065



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20110017065



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