IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  20 August 2014

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20130020833 


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 an earlier request for correction of the military records of his grandfather, a former service member (FSM), to show the FSM is entitled to the World War I (WWI) Victory Medal with a battle clasp for the Meuse-Argonne Campaign.

2.  The applicant states:

* award of the WWI Victory Medal should be evidence that the FSM served overseas
* the FSM served with the 2nd Pioneer Infantry Regiment and this unit is identified in the Order of Battle for the Meuse-Argonne Campaign
* the book, U.S. Army in World War I, Orders of Battle, Ground Units, page 101, states the 2nd Pioneer Infantry served with the 1st U.S. Army from September to November 1918

3.  The applicant provides:

* self-authored statements
* Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) Docket Number AR20120019951, dated 28 May 2013
* FSM's AGO Form 152 (Promotion Certificate)
* FSM's Enlistment Record
* page 83 of a First Army publication
* letter from the Regimental Adjutant, 2nd Pioneer Infantry, dated 26 May 1919

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 ABCMR in Docket Number AR20120019951 on 28 May 2013.

2.  He provides a new argument that warrants consideration by the Board.

3.  The FSM's complete military records are not available to the ABCMR for review.  A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members' records at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in 1973.  It is believed that the FSM's records were lost or destroyed in that fire.  This case is being considered using reconstructed records provided by NPRC and the documents provided by the applicant.

4.  The available records show the FSM was inducted into the Army of the United States on 26 May 1918.  He was assigned to Company M, 2nd Pioneer Infantry Regiment.  He was honorably discharged on 5 November 1919 in the rank of corporal.

5.  The FSM's WD AGO Form Number 0150-2 (Discharge Certificate) shows he was awarded "One Bronze Victory Button."

6.  The applicant provided:

	a.  a copy of the FSM's certificate for promotion to corporal that shows the FSM was promoted to corporal on 18 October 1918 while he was assigned to 2nd Pioneer Infantry Regiment and the certificate was given at Dijon, Côte-d'Or, France;

	b.  a copy of the FSM's Enlistment Record that shows he departed the United States on 30 June 1918 and arrived in the United States on 31 October 1919;

	c.  page 83 of a First Army publication that includes the composition of units participating in the Meuse-Argonne Operation for the period 26 September through 11 November 1918 and lists 2nd Pioneer Infantry Regiment with the Engineers;

	d.  a letter from the Regimental Adjutant, 2nd Pioneer Infantry Regiment, dated 26 May 1919, that shows the organization's address as France; and

	e.  page 101 of the book, U.S. Army in World War I, Orders of Battle, Ground Units, that states the 2nd Pioneer Infantry Regiment served with the 1st U.S. Army from September to November 1918.

7.  NPRC authorized the shipment of the following awards in a letter, dated 29 April 2010, based on documents that were provided and/or official documents:

* WWI Victory Button (Bronze)
* WWI Victory Medal with France Service Clasp
* Army of Occupation of Germany Medal WWI

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides for award of the WWI Victory Medal (originally known as the Victory Medal), established by War Department General Order 48, dated 1919, for service between 6 April 1917 and 11 November 1918.  Final endorsement of the Victory Medal design was given by the Secretary of War on 14 November 1919.

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides for battle clasps authorized for wear on the suspension ribbon of the WWI Victory Medal for each of the major operations in which individuals were actually present under competent orders.  The clasps, with a star on each side of the name of the campaign or one of the defensive sectors, were worn on the suspension ribbon of the medal.  Among the battle clasps authorized are Aisne-Marne, 18 July-6 August 1918; St. Mihiel, 
12-16 September 1918; and Meuse-Argonne, 26 September-11 November 1918.  Since battle and service clasps could only be worn on the full-sized WWI Victory Medal, bronze service stars were authorized for wear on the award ribbon.  This was the common method of campaign and battle display when wearing the WWI Victory Medal as a ribbon on a military uniform.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

The applicant provided sufficient evidence showing the FSM participated in the Meuse-Argonne Campaign.  Therefore, the FSM's records should be corrected to show this campaign.









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 amendment of the ABCMR's decision in Docket Number AR20120019951, dated 28 May 2013.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected to show the FSM is authorized the WWI Victory Medal with Battle Clasp for the Meuse-Argonne Campaign.



      _____________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)                                         AR20130020833



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20130020833



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