BOARD DATE:	  6 February 2014

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20130009421 


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 requests reconsideration of his earlier appeal to add the Army of Occupation Medal to his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation-Honorable Discharge).

2.  The applicant states that the histories of the 27th Infantry and 25th Infantry Division show service in the occupation of Japan.  He also points out that the Social Security Number (SSN) shown on the DD Form 215 (Correction of Discharge Document) issued to correct his WD AGO Form 53-55 is wrong and asks that this be rectified.

3.  The applicant provides copies of a history of the 27th Infantry, a historical timeline of the 25th Infantry Division and his DD Form 215 from the last Board.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20110021456 on 26 April 2012.

2.  The historical documents provided by the applicant are new evidence that warrants reconsideration.

3.  The original Board consideration of the applicants request noted:

	a.  His records were apparently lost or destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center.

	b.  He left the continental United States on 12 February 1944, served in the 27th Infantry in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, participated in the Luzon Campaign, and departed the theater on 19 January 1946.

	c.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states that for award of the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp, qualifying service in Japan included service in the Japanese home islands, the Ryukyu Islands, and the Bonin-Volcano Islands between 3 September 1945 and 27 April 1952.  Service between 3 September 1945 and 2 March 1946 is qualifying only if the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was earned prior to 3 September 1945.

	d.  Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) does not the 27th Infantry as authorized occupation credit.

4.  The Board recommended changing the applicant's WD AGO Form 53-55 to include "25th Division" in item 6 (Organization) and add a bronze service star to the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal in item 31 (Decorations and Citations).  His request to add the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp was denied because the 27th Infantry was not listed as entitled to occupation credit in Army Pamphlet 272-1.

5.  In considering the applicant's request following are pertinent:

	a.  Hostilities ended in Japan on 15 August 1945 with the announcement that Japan would abide with the Potsdam Agreement.  The war in the Pacific officially ended with the formal surrender ceremony on 2 September 1945.

	b.  Paragraph 5c of Army pamphlet 672-1 states that occupation credit was listed in that publication only for units that were already within the various occupied countries upon the cessation of hostilities

6.  Liaison with the Awards Branch, U.S. Army Human Resources Command (HRC) confirmed that the 27th Infantry was authorized occupation credit for Japan.

7.  Item 31 (Military Qualifications and Date) of his WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was authorized the Combat Infantryman Badge.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) 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 (CIB) or the Combat Medical Badge (CMB) is considered to be a citation in orders.  Therefore, the Bronze Star Medal is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service during World War II.

9.  The first three digits of the applicant's SSN are 570.  They are shown as 520 on the DD Form 215 that was issued to correct his discharge document.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Because the listing of occupation credit in Army Pamphlet 672-1 stopped with the cessation of hostilities the applicant's unit, the 27th Infantry, is not listed in that publication.  However, the Awards Branch, HRC confirmed that it is authorized occupation credit for Japan,  The Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp should be added to his WD AGO Form 53-55.

2.  The applicant is authorized award of the Bronze Star Medal based on the CIB.  It should be added to his WD AGO Form 53-55.

3.  The DD Form 215 that was issued as the result of the last Board has his SSN wrong.  It should be voided.  The corrections from the original Board and this reconsideration should be incorporated in a new DD Form 215.

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 amendment of the ABCMR’s decision in Docket Number AR20110021456, dated 26 April 2012.  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 for exemplary conduct in ground combat between 3 March 1944 and 2 September 1945 based on the CIB;

	b.  voiding the DD Form 215, dated 28 June 2012; and

	c.  Correcting his WD AGO Form 53-55 by:

* deleting "27th Infantry" from item 6 and substituting "27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division"
* deleting the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal from item 33
* adding to item 33 the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze service star, Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp, and Bronze Star Medal

	d.  issuing him the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp and the 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)                                         AR20130009421





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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20130009421



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