IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 11 February 2014
DOCKET NUMBER: AR20130009633
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 correction of the WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge) of his deceased father, a former service member (FSM), to show award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM).
2. The applicant states his father was awarded the BSM based on the award of the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB); however, it is not reflected on his WD AGO Form 53-55.
3. The applicant provides copies of the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55, death certificate, and the document authorizing issuance of the award of the BSM based on award of the CIB.
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:
1. The FSM's military records are not available for review. A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members' records at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. It is believed the FSM's records were lost or destroyed in that fire. However, the documents provided by the applicant are sufficient to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case.
2. The FSM was inducted into the Army of the United States on 8 December 1942 and entered active duty on 15 December 1942. He completed training in military occupational specialty (MOS) 604 (light machine gunner) and departed for the European theater of operation (ETO) on 14 October 1944. He arrived in the ETO on 28 October 1944 and participated in the Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns while assigned to an armored infantry company.
3. The FSM departed the ETO on 28 July 1945 and was honorably discharged on 24 November 1945. His WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Medal with two bronze service stars, and World War II Victory Medal.
4. On 11 January 1985, the U.S. Army Reserve Components Personnel and Administration Center issued the FSM an authorization for issuance of award of the BSM based on award of the CIB.
5. War Department Circular 269-1943 established the CIB and the Expert Infantryman Badge to recognize and provide an incentive to infantrymen. The Expert Infantryman Badge was to be awarded for attainment of certain proficiency standards or by satisfactory performance of duty in action against the enemy. The CIB was awarded for exemplary conduct in action against the enemy. War Department Circular 186-1944 further provided that the CIB was to be awarded only to infantrymen serving with infantry units of brigade, regimental or smaller size. Additionally, World War II holders of the CIB received a monthly pay supplement known as combat infantry pay and holders of the Expert Infantryman Badge were entitled to expert infantry pay. Soldiers had economic as well as intangible reasons to ensure that their records were correct; therefore, pay records are frequently the best available source to verify entitlement to this award. The U.S. Army Human Resources Command Military Awards Branch has advised in similar cases that during World War II, the CIB was normally awarded only to enlisted individuals who served in the following positions:
* light machine gunner (604)
* heavy machine gunner (605)
* platoon sergeant (651)
* squad leader (653)
* rifleman (745)
* automatic rifleman (746)
* heavy weapons noncommissioned officer (812)
* gun crewman (864)
6. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states the BSM is awarded for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service in military operations against an armed enemy. The BSM 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 CIB or the Combat Medical Badge is considered to be a citation in orders for award of the BSM. Therefore, the BSM is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service during World War II.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. Although there is no award of the CIB indicated in the available records, given the FSM's MOS as a light machine gunner it is reasonable to presume that he was in fact awarded the CIB at some point during his participation in two campaigns during World War II. Accordingly, the CIB should be added to his records at this time.
2. Additionally, it is also reasonable to accept that he qualifies for award of the BSM based on award of the CIB and, since the medal has already been issued, it should be added to his records at this time.
BOARD VOTE:
____X____ ___X_____ ___X_____ GRANT FULL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF
________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING
________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION
BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:
The Board determined the evidence presented is 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 adding award of the BSM and CIB to the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55.
_____________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) AR20130009633
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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130009633
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