IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  19 June 2014

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20130019296 


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 the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge) to show that he participated in the Philippine Campaign during World War II and award of the Philippine Liberation Medal and any other awards and decorations to which he is entitled.

2.  The applicant states the FSM was a member of the 803rd Field Artillery Unit which was assigned 155 millimeter Howitzers and served on the islands of Leyte and Luzon before the end of the war in 1945 to combat invasion.  She attests that they also performed shore patrol duties around Manila.  She is attempting to correct her father's military record and obtain all of his medals so that they may be passed on as family heirlooms.

3.  The applicant provides:

* the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55
* the FSM's Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Certificate of Death
* her Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Notification of Birth Registration
* the FSM's obituary as published in the Williamsport Sun Gazette newspaper


CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The FSM's military record is 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.  This case is being considered using the WD AGO Form 53-55 provided by the applicant.

2.  The FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he was inducted into the Army of the United States on 23 March 1944.  His final unit of assignment was the 803rd Field Artillery Battery.  He was honorably discharged on 14 May 1946 after completing a total of 2 years, 1 month, and 22 days of active military service.  He held the grade of technician fifth class on the date of separation.  

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

	a.  Item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) contains the entry "NONE."

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

* American Campaign Medal
* Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
* Good Conduct Medal
* World War II Victory Medal

	c.  Item 34 (Wounds Received in Action) shows "None."

	d.  Item 36 (Service Outside Continental U.S. and Return) shows he arrived in the Western Pacific Theater of Operations on 12 July 1945 and departed on 20  April 1946.

	e.  Item 37 (Total Length of Service) shows he served:

* 1 year, 2 months, and 20 days of continental service
* 11 months and 2 days of foreign service

4.  The FSM's available record is void of evidence and the applicant has not provided evidence showing specific geographic location(s) where the FSM served during his period of foreign service.

5.  The applicant provides a copy of the FSM's eulogy as published in the Williamsport Sun Gazette newspaper.  This eulogy mentions that he participated in World War II, but does not provide any details of his service.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) states:

	a.  the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal is awarded for service in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946.  Qualifying service for this award includes permanent assignment in the theater, service in a passenger or a temporary duty status for 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days, or active combat against the enemy and awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps or higher unit showing actual participation in combat.  Boundaries of Asiatic-Pacific Theater:

		(1)  The eastern boundary is coincident with the western boundary of the American Theater.

		(2)  The western boundary is from the North Pole south along the 60th meridian east longitude to its intersection with the east boundary of Iran, thence south along the Iran boundary to the Gulf of Oman and the intersection of the 60th meridian east longitude, thence south along the 60th meridian east longitude to the South Pole.

	b.  the Philippine Defense Ribbon is awarded for service in the defense of the Philippines from 8 December 1941 to 15 June 1942, under either of the following conditions:  (a) participation in any engagement against the enemy in Philippine territory, in Philippine waters, or in the air over the Philippines or over Philippine waters.  An individual will be considered as having participated in an engagement if they meet one of the following:  (1) was a member of the defense garrison of the Bataan Peninsula or of the fortified islands at the entrance to Manila Bay; (2) was a member of and present with a unit actually under enemy fire or air attack; (3) served on a ship which was under enemy fire or air attack; or (4) was a crewmember or passenger in an airplane which was under enemy aerial or ground fire; or (b) assigned or stationed in Philippine territory or in Philippine waters for not less than 30 days during the period.  Individuals who meet conditions set forth in a and b above are authorized to wear a bronze service star on the ribbon.

	c.  the Philippine Liberation Ribbon is awarded for service in the liberation of the Philippines from 17 October 1944 to 3 September 1945, under any of the following conditions:  (1) participated in the initial landing operations on Leyte or adjoining islands from 17 October 1944 to 20 October 1944.  An individual will be considered as having participated in such operations if he landed on Leyte or adjoining islands, was on a ship in Philippine waters, or was a crewmember of an airplane which flew over Philippine territory during the period; (2) participated in any engagement against the enemy during the campaign on Leyte and adjoining islands.  An individual will be considered as having participated in combat if he meets any of the criteria (2) through (4) for award of the Philippine Defense Ribbon; (3) participated in any engagement against the enemy on islands other than those included in (2) for awards of the Philippine Defense Ribbon.  An individual will be considered as having participated in combat if he or she meets any of the criteria (2) through (4) of the Philippine Defense Ribbon; or (4) served in the Philippine Islands or on ships in Philippine waters for not less than 30 days during the period.  An individual who meets more than one of the conditions set forth above is authorized to wear a bronze service star on the ribbon for each additional condition under which he or she qualified other than that under which he or she is eligible for the initial award of the ribbon.

7.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) lists the campaign participation credit for units serving during World War II.  This publication does not show that the 803rd Field Artillery was awarded credit for participation in any named campaigns during the FSM's period of assignment.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's contentions that the FSM's record should be corrected to show that he participated in the Philippine Campaign during World War II and award of the Philippine Liberation Medal and any other awards and decorations to which he is entitled were carefully considered.

2.  During World War II, the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations encompassed a massive area of land, sea, and air which included, but was not limited to, the Philippine Islands. 

3.  Although the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows he served a qualifying period of service for award of the American Campaign Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, it also clearly indicates that he did not participate in any named battles or campaigns.

4.  There is no evidence in the available record and the applicant has not provided sufficient evidence which shows the specific geographic location(s) of the FSM's foreign service and Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 does not specifically award his unit credit for participation in any named campaign.

5.  In absence of evidence showing the FSM served in locations that fulfill the prerequisites for award of the requested campaign credit or campaign medals, there is no basis for granting the requested relief.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

____X____  ___X_____  ___X_____  DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

1.  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.

2.  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 his service in arms.



      _______ _   _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)                                         AR20130019296





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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20130019296



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