IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  7 August 2012

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20120000518 


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 spouse of a deceased former service member (FSM), requests correction of the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation – Honorable Discharge) to show:

* award of the World War II (WWII) Victory Medal
* award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) based on award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB)
* participation credit for the Ardennes-Alsace campaign
* award of the BSM with "V" Device

2.  The applicant states:

	a.  The FSM served from 15 August 1944 to 11 July 1946 and qualified for the WWII Victory Medal under the provisions of Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards), paragraph 5-12.

	b.  The FSM earned a CIB during WWII and qualified for a BSM under the provisions of Army Regulation 600-8-22, paragraph 3-14d(2).

	c.  The 232d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, received combat credit for the Ardennes-Alsace campaign sometime after 1948.  The Army Almanac showed the 42d Infantry Division with credit for only the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns as of October 1948, but this changed after 1961.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) shows all three of the 42d Infantry Division's regiments with credit for the Ardennes-Alsace campaign.  The closing date for the Ardennes-Alsace campaign was 25 January 1945.  She believes the FSM joined the 232d Infantry Regiment in eastern France sometime between 15 January and 17 February 1945.

	d.  During his lifetime, the FSM mentioned to family and friends an incident in Wurzburg, Germany, where his company was pinned down by German machine gun fire.  The FSM and another Soldier were sent to eliminate the German position.  The FSM recalled that his commanding officer said he would request award of the BSM for the two men, but the FSM never received a BSM.  Historical records show the 232d Infantry Regiment was in Wurzburg 4-6 April 1945.  The Internet shows a citation for a BSM for a Soldier of the FSM's company for heroic achievement in action on 5 April 1945 at Wurzburg, Germany.  Given the similarities in the accounts, it seems likely they are describing the same incident and that the squad sent to eliminate the German position was, in fact, just the FSM and the Soldier cited.  As a result, it might be appropriate to award the FSM the BSM with "V" Device, the same medal for which the other Soldier was cited.

3.  The applicant provides copies of the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55, Honorable Discharge Certificate, and certificate of death, as well as a document describing another Soldier's heroic achievement.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The FSM's military records are not available 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.  However, the applicant provided sufficient documents to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case.

2.  The FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was inducted into the Army of the United States and entered active duty on 15 August 1944.

3.  4th Infantry Division General Orders Number 33, dated 30 January 1946, show the FSM was awarded the BSM with "V" Device for heroic achievement in action on 5 April 1945 in Wurzburg, Germany.

4.  The FSM was honorably discharged on 11 July 1946 by reason of demobilization.

	a.  Item 6 (Organization) shows he was assigned to Company E, 232d Infantry Regiment, 42d Rainbow (Infantry) Division.

	b.  Item 31 (Military Qualification and Date) shows he was awarded the CIB and the Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar.

	c.  Item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) shows he participated in the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns.

	d.  Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) shows he was awarded or authorized the European-African-Middle Eastern (EAME) Theater Service Medal (currently known as the EAME Campaign Medal), Army Good Conduct Medal, and Army of Occupation Medal-Germany.

	e.  Item 36 (Service Outside Continental United States and Return) shows he departed the United States on 8 January 1945 and arrived in the European theater of operations (ETO) on 15 January 1945.  He later departed the ETO on 25 June 1946 and arrived in the United States on 4 July 1946.

	f.  Item 37 (Total Length of Service) shows he completed 5 months of continental service and 1 year, 5 months, and 27 days of foreign service.

5.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 shows the 232d Infantry Regiment was credited with participation in the Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe, and Rhineland campaigns.  This pamphlet also shows the 232d Infantry Regiment was awarded occupation credit for Germany for the period 2-19 May 1945 and Austria for the period 5 July-20 October 1945.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the BSM is awarded for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service in military operations against an armed enemy.  The BSM is authorized for each individual who was cited in orders or awarded a certificate for exemplary conduct in ground combat between 7 December 1941 and 2 September 1945 or whose achievement or service during that period was confirmed by documents executed prior to 1 July 1947.  An award of the CIB or the Combat Medical Badge is considered to be a citation in orders for award of the BSM.  Therefore, the BSM is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service during WWII.

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 states the WWII Victory Medal is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946, both dates inclusive.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 states a bronze service star is authorized for wear on the appropriate campaign medal, to include the EAME Campaign Medal, for each campaign participation credit.



DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's request for correction of the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 to show award of the BSM with "V" Device, BSM, and WWII Victory Medal and participation credit for the Ardennes-Alsace campaign was carefully considered and determined to have merit.

2.  4th Infantry Division General Orders Number 33, dated 30 January 1946, show the FSM was awarded the BSM with "V" Device for heroic achievement in action on 5 April 1945 in Wurzburg, Germany.  Therefore, his WD AGO 
Form 53-55 should be corrected to show this medal.

3.  The FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the CIB.  An award of the CIB during the period 7 December 1941 to 2 September 1945 is considered to be a citation in orders for award of the BSM.  Therefore, the FSM should be awarded the BSM based on award of the CIB for his service during WWII and his WD AGO Form 53-55 should be corrected to show this medal.

4.  The FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he served a qualifying period for award of the WWII Victory Medal.  Therefore, his WD AGO Form 53-55 should be corrected to show this medal.

5.  The FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he served a qualifying period in the ETO for award of Ardennes-Alsace campaign participation credit.  Therefore, his WD AGO Form 53-55 should be corrected to show this campaign.

6.  The FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the EAME Campaign Medal.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 shows the 232d Infantry Regiment was credited with participation in the Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe, and Rhineland campaigns during his period of assignment.  Therefore, his WD AGO Form 53-55 should be corrected to show the EAME Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars.

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:

* awarding the FSM the BSM based on award of the CIB for his service during WWII
* deleting the EAME Theater Service Medal from the FSM's WD AGO 
Form 53-55
* adding the BSM (2nd Award) and "V" Device, EAME Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars, and WWII Victory Medal to the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55
* adding the Ardennes-Alsace campaign to the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55

2.  The Board wants the applicant and all others to know the sacrifices the FSM made in service to the United States during WWII are deeply appreciated.  The applicant and all Americans should be justifiably proud of the FSM's 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)                                         AR20120000518



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20120000518



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