IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 10 January 2013
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20120011008
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 son 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 he was a prisoner of war (POW).
2. The applicant states the FSM's discharge papers do not credit him with his being a POW.
3. The applicant provides copies of:
* WD AGO Form 53-55
* Death Certificate
* Letter from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), dated 25 April 2012
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. The FSM's military records are not available to the Board for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members records at the NPRC in 1973. It is believed that the FSM's records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, the documents provided by the applicant are sufficient for the Board to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case.
2. The FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows:
a. he was inducted into the Army of the United States and entered active duty on
8 January 1944;
b. he held military occupational specialty 604 (Light Machine Gunner);
c. he served in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) for a period of
10 months and 11 days;
d. he was wounded in action on 9 May 1945;
e. he was discharged on 27 November 1945; and
f. he was awarded:
* Good Conduct Medal
* European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal
* World War II Victory Medal
* American Theater Service Medal
* Lapel Button
3. A GSA Form 6932 (NPRC Search Request and Reply) dated 26 April 1984 and the letter from the NPRC provided by the applicant, dated 25 April 2012, state that the FSM's name is not listed in the POW Book and his status as a POW could not be verified.
4. Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents) establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing discharge documents. It directs that, in the case of prisoners of war, the unit of assignment, country, and dates of capture and release will be entered in the Remarks section of the discharge document.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. The applicant contends that the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 should be corrected to show he was a POW.
2. There is no available evidence to sufficiently document that the FSM was held as a POW during World War II.
3. In view of the above, the applicant's request should be denied.
4. This action in no way diminishes the sacrifices made by the FSM in service to our Nation. The applicant and all Americans should be justifiably proud of the FSMs service in arms.
BOARD VOTE:
________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
___X_____ ____X____ ____X____ DENY APPLICATION
BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:
The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.
_______ _ _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) AR20120011008
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20120011008
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