BOARD DATE:	  5 February 2013

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20120011335 


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) to show his grade as Technical Sergeant (T/Sgt) instead of "PFC" (Private First Class).

2.  The applicant states:

* the highest rank earned by his father was T/Sgt
* records have been lost that would show he was promoted to T/Sgt

3.  The applicant provides:

* photographs of his father wearing the T/Sgt rank
* certificate of completion, dated 17 December 1943
* FSM's Certificate of Death

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 National Personnel Records Center in 1973.  It is believed that the FSM's 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 handwritten WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 13 April 1943 and he entered active service on
20 April 1943.  He served as a radio operator in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) from August 1944 to December 1945.  He was honorably discharged on 18 January 1946.

3.  Item 3 (Grade) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the entry "PFC."  Item 38 (Highest Grade Held) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows the entry "Tec 4" (Technician Fourth Grade).

4.  There is no evidence in the available record that shows the FSM held the rank of T/Sgt prior to his discharge on 18 January 1946.

5.  The applicant provided a certificate of completion that states the FSM served as a Technician Fourth Grade.  He also provided a photograph of a Soldier wearing the T/Sgt rank.

6.  The Army's enlisted rank structure has evolved over time.

	a.  In 1920, the Army rank and pay system received a major overhaul.  All enlisted and noncommissioned ranks were reduced from 128 different insignias and several pay grades to only seven rank insignias and seven pay grades, which were numbered in seniority from 1st Grade (highest) to 7th Grade (lowest).  The 2nd grade had two rank titles:  first sergeant and technical sergeant.

	b.  From 1920 to 1942, there was a rank designated "Private/Specialist" (or simply "Specialist") that was graded in six Classes (the lowest being 6th Class 
and the highest being 1st Class).  They were considered the equal of a PFC, but drew additional specialist pay in relationship to the specialist level possessed on top of their base PFC (Grade Six) pay.  The classes only indicated experience, not seniority, and a Private/Specialist did not outrank a PFC.

	c.  During World War II, the Army had a dual rank system for enlisted Soldiers that differentiated between technicians and command ranks.  On 8 January 1942, the rank of Technician was introduced to replace the Private/Specialist rank that was discontinued.  This gave technical specialists more authority by grading them as noncommissioned officers rather than senior enlisted personnel. They were parallel to pay grades of the time, going in seniority from Technician Fifth Grade (Grade Five), Technician Fourth Grade (Grade Four), and Technician Third Grade (Grade Three).



GRADE
COMMAND RANK
TECHNICIAN RANK
1st Grade
First Sergeant (1st Sgt)

1st Grade
Master Sergeant (M/Sgt)

2nd Grade
Technical Sergeant (T/Sgt)

3rd Grade
Staff Sergeant (S/Sgt)
Technician 3rd Grade (T/3)
4th Grade
Sergeant (Sgt)
Technician 4th Grade (T/4)
5th Grade
Corporal (Cpl)
Technician 5th Grade (T/5)
6th Grade
Private First Class (Pfc)

7th Grade
Private (Pvt)

	d.  A technician was paid according to his grade, was outranked by the corresponding noncommissioned officer [command] grade, but was senior to the next lowest pay grade, and had no direct supervisory authority outside of his specialty.  To reduce the confusion this caused in the field, an embroidered "T" insignia was authorized for wear under the chevrons on 4 September 1942.  The rank was discontinued on 1 August 1948.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence of record shows the FSM's highest grade held was Technician Fourth Grade.  However, his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was a PFC at the time of his discharge on 18 January 1946.

2.  The certificate of completion that states the FSM served as a Technician Fourth Grade and the photograph of a Soldier wearing the T/Sgt rank provided by the applicant were noted.  However, since there is no evidence that shows the FSM held the command rank of T/Sgt prior to his discharge, regrettably, there is an insufficient evidentiary basis for changing his grade from PFC to T/Sgt.

3.  The applicant and all others concerned should know that 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 FSM's 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)                                         AR20120011335



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20120011335



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