BOARD DATE:	  3 May 2012

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20110021507 


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 daughter of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests her father be awarded the Bronze Star Medal (BSM).

2.  The applicant states her father should be awarded the BSM based on his participation in the Philippine Islands campaign during World War II (WWII).

3.  The applicant provides the FSM’s WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation-Honorable Discharge) and his WD AGO Form 100 (Separation Qualification Record).

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The FSM’s military record is not available to the Board for review.  A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members' records at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in 1973.  It is believed that the FSM’s records were lost or destroyed in that fire.  This case is being considered using reconstructed records maintained at the NPRC that includes the:

* FSM’s WD AGO Form 53-55
* DD Form 2510 (Prisoner of War (POW) Medal Application/Information)
* DARP Form 3583 (POW Medal Worksheet)
* DA Form 1577 (Authorization for Issuance of Awards)


2.  The FSM’s WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 4 April 1941, he served in the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) from 26 September 1941 to 15 September 1945, and he served with the 515th Costal Artillery.  Item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) shows he participated in the Philippine Islands (Defense) campaign of WWII.  Item 33 (Awards and Decorations) shows he was awarded the:

* Distinguished Unit Citation
* World War II Victory Medal
* American Defense Service Medal
* American Campaign Medal
* European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
* Asiatic-Pacific Theater (Campaign) Medal
* Philippine Defense Ribbon
* Army Good Conduct Medal
* Purple Heart

3.  The WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the FSM was honorably separated on 
27 May 1946, after completing 5 years, 1 month, and 24 days of total active service.

4.  The FSM’s WD AGO Form 100 shows he served in the PTO for 49 months and participated in the Philippine Defense Campaign with the 20th Coast Artillery and 515th Coast Artillery.

5.  The NPRC file shows Prisoner of War (POW) status was certified on the FSM and that he was issued the POW Medal in 1988.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides Department of the Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual military decorations, Army Good Conduct Medal, service medals and ribbons, combat and special skill badges and tabs, unit decorations, and trophies, and similar devices awarded in recognition of accomplishments.  It states:

	a.  the Bronze Star Medal may be made to eligible Soldiers who participated in the Philippine Islands Campaign between 7 December 1941 and 10 May 1942.  Requirements for award of the Bronze Star Medal under this provision of the regulation are performance of duty on the island of Luzon or the Harbor Defenses in Corregidor and Bataan and award of the Distinguished Unit Citation (now known as the Presidential Unit Citation).


	b.  the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal is awarded for service in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946.  Qualifying service for this award includes permanent assignment in the theater, service in a passenger or a temporary duty status for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or active combat against the enemy and awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps or higher unit showing actual participation in combat.  One bronze service star is authorized for each campaign participation.

	c.  the Philippine Liberation Ribbon is awarded for service in the liberation of the Philippines from 17 October 1944 to 3 September 1945, under any of the following conditions:

		(1)  participated in the initial landing operations on Leyte or adjoining islands from 17 October 1944 to 20 October 1944.  An individual will be considered as having participated in such operations if he landed on Leyte or adjoining islands, was on a ship in Philippine waters, or was a crewmember of an airplane which flew over Philippine territory during the period;

		(2)  participated in any engagement against the enemy during the campaign on Leyte and adjoining islands.  An individual will be considered as having participated in combat if he meets any of the criteria (2) through (4) for award of the Philippine Defense Ribbon;

		(3)  participated in any engagement against the enemy on islands other than those included in (2) for awards of the Philippine Defense Ribbon.  An individual will be considered as having participated in combat if he or she meets any of the criteria (2) through (4) of the Philippine Defense Ribbon; or

		(4)  served in the Philippine Islands or on ships in Philippine waters for not less than 30 days during the period.

	d.  the Philippine Independence Ribbon awarded to any recipient of both of the Philippine Defense and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon.  There was brief exception to this requirement when Army Regulation 600-65, change 2, dated 13 January 1953, authorized award of the Philippine Independence Medal if an individual received either the Philippine Defense or the Philippine Liberation Ribbon.  However, this provision was superseded by Department of the Army Circular 672-1, dated 16 March 1955, which again required award of both the Philippine Defense and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon for award of the Philippine Independence Ribbon.  U.S. Army personnel authorized to wear the 


Philippine Independence Ribbon under the established criteria may continue to wear the ribbon provided the authority for such wear was recorded before
24 November 1954.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant’s contention that the FSM should be awarded the BSM based on his service and campaign participation in the defense of the Philippines has been carefully considered and found to have merit.

2.  By regulation, Soldiers who participated in the Philippine Islands campaign between 7 December 1941 and 10 May 1942 and who were awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation may be awarded this decoration.  The evidence of record confirms the applicant served in the Philippines for 49 months and participated in the Philippine Islands (Defense) campaign of WWII.  Therefore, it would be appropriate to posthumously award the FSM the BSM and correct the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 to show this award.

3.  The evidence further shows that based on his service and campaign participation in the PTO in the Philippine Islands, the FSM is also eligible for the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Philippine Independence Ribbon, and 1 bronze service star to be affixed to the already-awarded Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.  Therefore, it would also be appropriate to add these awards to the FSM's
WD AGO Form 53-55 at this time.

4.  Further, the evidence shows the FSM’s POW status was verified and he was issued the POW Medal in 1988.  Therefore, it would be appropriate to add this award to the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55.

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 Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal;

	b.  posthumously awarding the FSM the Bronze Star Medal for service on
9 April 1942; and

	c.  adding to item 33 of the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 the:

* Bronze Star Medal
* Prisoner of War Medal
* Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 1 bronze service star
* Philippine Liberation Medal
* Philippine Independence Ribbon



      __________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)                                         AR20110021507



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20110021507



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