BOARD DATE: 18 December 2012
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20120010496
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. Through a Member of Congress, the applicant requests correction of the WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) of her deceased father, a former service member (FSM), to document his prisoner of war (POW) status during World War II.
2. She states a Western Union telegram is evidence of the FSM's POW status in Italy. She feels this should be documented on his WD AGO Form 53-55.
3. She provides:
* FSM's death certificate
* mother's death certificate
* applicant's birth certificate
* FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55
* Western Union telegram
* World War II Prisoners of War Data File printout
* various miscellaneous documents
* Department of Veterans Affairs rating decision documents
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. The FSM'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 (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, which primarily consist of the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 and miscellaneous documents remaining in the NPRC file.
2. The FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he enlisted in the Army on 2 January 1941. He was honorably separated from active duty on 28 May 1945.
3. The FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 also shows he served in the European Theater of Operations from 12 July-25 October 1942 and in the African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations from 8 November 1942-22 July 1944. It further shows he participated in the Tunisia and Algeria-French Morocco campaigns of World War II.
4. The FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 also shows that during his active duty tenure he was awarded or authorized the Army Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Ribbon, Purple Heart, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two battle stars, and Combat Infantryman Badge.
5. The applicant submits a Western Union telegram which indicates the FSM was reported as a POW of the Italian government. The date on the telegram is 26 April with no year indicated.
6. A printout from a World War II Prisoners of War Data File shows the FSM was detained by Germany at a camp in Italy. This document does not show the period of his detainment.
7. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) prescribes Army policy, criteria, and administrative instructions concerning individual and unit military awards.
a. Paragraph 2-9 contains guidance for award of the POW Medal. It states the POW Medal is authorized to be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Armed Forces, was taken prisoner and held captive after 5 April 1917.
b. It states the Bronze Star Medal is awarded for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service in military operations against an armed enemy. The Bronze Star Medal 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 Combat Infantryman Badge is considered to be a citation in orders. Therefore, the Bronze Star Medal is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized this badge for service during World War II.
c. This regulation also states the World War II Victory Medal is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. The printout from a World War II Prisoners of War Data File showing the FSM was detained by Germany at a camp in Italy and the Western Union telegram indicating the FSM was reported as a POW of the Italian government confirm that the FSM was a POW during World War II. Therefore, it would be appropriate to add the POW Medal to his WD AGO Form 53-55. It would also be appropriate to amend item 55 (Remarks) of the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 to show "Prisoner of War, Italy."
2. The FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. Therefore, he was also entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal and to have this medal added to his WD AGO Form 53-55.
3. The FSM served during a period qualifying him for the World War II Victory Medal. Therefore, it would be appropriate to add this medal to the FSM's
WD AGO Form 53-55.
4. In view of the foregoing, the applicant is entitled to have the FSM's records corrected as shown below.
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 amending the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55:
a. by adding the POW Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and World War II Victory Medal; and
b. by adding to item 55 the entry, "Prisoner of War, Italy."
_______ _ 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.
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