BOARD DATE:	  13 December 2012

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20120011031 


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 correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge) to show he was awarded two Bronze Star Medals throughout his service.

2.  The applicant states she did not see her father's discharge papers until after his passing.  She believes his discharge papers show he was supposed to receive two Bronze Star Medals; however, he only received one.

3.  The applicant provides:

* Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Form 21-0845 (Authorization to Disclose Personal Information to a Third Party)
* Certificate of Death
* WD AGO Form 53-55

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 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 FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was inducted into the Army of the United States and entered into active service on 22 October 1942.  His military occupational specialty was 745 (Squad Leader Rifleman).  His final unit of assignment was Company E, 381st Infantry Regiment.  He was honorably discharged on 9 July 1946 after completing a total of 3 years, 8 months, and      18 days of active military service.  He held the rank of sergeant on the date of his separation.

3.  The FSM's WD Form 53-55 also contains the following pertinent information:

	a.  Item 31 (Military Qualification and Date (i.e., infantry, aviation and marksmanship badges, etc.)) shows award of the Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-1), and the Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Carbine Bar.

	b.  Item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) shows he participated in the Southern Philippines and Ryukyus campaigns during his period of service.

	c.  Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) shows he was awarded or authorized the:

* American Theater Ribbon [now known as the American Campaign Medal]
* Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 2 bronze service stars
* Army Good Conduct Medal
* Purple Heart
* Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with 2 bronze battle stars
* Army Lapel Button

	d.  Item 36 (Service Outside Continental U.S. (CONUS) and Return) shows he arrived in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations on 31 July 1944 and arrived in CONUS on 18 June 1945.

4.  There are no official orders in the FSM's reconstructed records that show he was recommended for or awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

5.  The FSM's records contain a letter, dated 21 March 2012, from the National Personnel Record Center, which authorized shipping him the Bronze Star Medal based on his award of the Combat Infantryman Badge by Headquarters, 381st Infantry Regiment, General Orders Number 20, dated 12 November 1944.

6.  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 Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon for each credited campaign.  
 
   d.  The World War II (WWII) Victory Medal is awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946, both dates inclusive.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There is no evidence in the FSM's records and the applicant provides none to show the FSM was awarded a second Bronze Star Medal.  She 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.  With respect to the Bronze Star Medal, the evidence of record shows the FSM was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.  Based on his entitlement to the Combat Infantryman Badge, he is entitled to award of the Bronze Star Medal and correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show this award.

3.  The available evidence shows he served a qualifying period for award of the WWII Victory Medal.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show this medal.  





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:

   a.  awarding him the Bronze Star Medal based upon his receipt of the Combat Infantryman Badge effective 12 November 1944; and 

   b.  adding the Bronze Star Medal and WWII Victory Medal to item 33 of his WD AGO Form 53-55.

2.  The Board further determined that the evidence presented was 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 award of a second 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)                                         AR20120011031



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20120011031



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