IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 24 January 2012
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20110018732
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 the addition of a third award of the Bronze Star Medal to his separation document.
2. The applicant states he received his third award of the Bronze Star Medal on 17 January 2011.
3. The applicant provides:
* Letter, dated 17 January 2011, from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)
* WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Service)
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. The applicant's complete 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, there were sufficient documents remaining in a reconstructed record for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case.
2. The applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 29 March 1943 and entered active duty at Camp Upton, NY, on 5 April 1943. This form also shows that at the time of his separation, he held military occupational specialty 745 (Rifleman) and he was assigned to Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 334th Infantry, 84th Infantry Division.
3. His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he departed the continental United States (CONUS) on 20 September 1944 and he arrived in the European theater of operations (ETO) on 1 October 1944. He departed the ETO on 20 March 1945 and arrived in CONUS on 1 April 1945.
4. He completed 2 years, 7 months, and 28 days of continental service and 6 months and 11 days of foreign service. He was honorably discharged on 7 June 1946.
5. Item 31 (Military Qualifications and Date) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-1).
6. Item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he participated in the Rhineland and Ardennes campaigns during World War II.
7. Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the:
* European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars
* Purple Heart
* Expert Infantryman Badge
* Combat Infantryman Badge
* World War II Victory Medal
* American Theater Campaign Ribbon
8. There are no official orders in the applicant's reconstructed records that show he was recommended for or awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
9. The applicant submitted a letter, dated 17 January 2011, from the NPRC authorizing him the Bronze Star Medal based on his award of the Combat Infantryman Badge.
10. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards.
a. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded in time of war for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service. As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.
b. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who, after 6 December 1941 and prior to 3 September 1945, have been cited in orders or in a formal certificate for meritorious or exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy. A citation in orders for the Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat Medical Badge awarded in the field during the period of actual combat against the armed enemy is considered as a citation for exemplary conduct in ground combat. It also provides for the wear of one bronze service star on the appropriate campaign or service medal for each credited campaign.
c. A bronze service star is worn on the appropriate service ribbon, to include the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, for each credited campaign.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. There is no evidence in his records and he provides none to show he was awarded three awards of the Bronze Star Medal. He may be, however, confusing the bronze service star and the Bronze Star Medal. Service stars are worn on campaign and service medals to denote participation in a named campaign while the Bronze Star Medal is an individual decoration awarded for service, achievement, or heroism.
2. The applicant was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. Based on the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge, he is also entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal and correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show this award.
3. The applicant served in the ETO during two campaigns (Rhineland and Ardennes) during World War II. Therefore, he was authorized two bronze service stars with his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal to signify his participation in the two campaigns. This award is correctly shown on his WD AGO Form 53-55.
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 a recommendation for partial relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by adding the Bronze Star Medal to his WD AGO Form 53-55.
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 awarding him three awards of the Bronze Star Medal.
_______ _ _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) AR20110018732
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20110018732
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