IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE:	  18 December 2014

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20140008144 


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, in effect, correction of his father's WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation - Honorable Discharge) to show he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (BSM). 

2.  The applicant states his father's BSM was approved after his discharge.  He is making this request so that the BSM can be shown on his father's grave marker.

3.  The applicant provides:

* his certificate of birth
* a letter from Case Management Division, Army Review Boards Agency
* a Standard Form 180 (Request Pertaining to Military Records)
* his father's Illinois Department of Public Health Certificate of Death Record
* his father's Honorable Discharge Certificate from the Army of the United States
* a news article
* his father's Bronze Star Medal Certificate, issued by the 28th Infantry Division
* his father's WD AGO Form 53-55
* a transmittal from State of Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs
* a National Archives and Records Administration (NA) Form 13075 (Questionnaire about Military Service)
* an NA Form 13055 (Request for Information Needed to Reconstruct Medical Data)
CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  The FSM's complete military records are not available for review.  A fire destroyed approximately 18 million service members’ records at the National Personnel Record 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 to conduct a fair and impartial review of this case.

2.  The FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 shows:

	a.  He was inducted into the Army of the United States on 1 April 1943 and served in the European Theater from 18 October 1943 to 2 October 1944.  At the time of his separation, he held military occupational specialty 657 (Medical Aidman) and he was assigned to Headquarters Company, 3613th Service Command Unit, Mayo General Hospital, Galesburg, IL. 

	b.  Item 32 (Battles and Campaigns) shows he participated in the Normandy and Northern France campaigns.

	d.  Item 34 (Wounds Received in Battle) shows “9 August 1944, European Theater.”

	e.  He was separated on 8 September 1945 in the rank of private first class.

	f.  Item 33 (Decorations and Citations) shows:

* Purple Heart
* European-African-Middle Eastern (EAME) Ribbon (now titled European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal)
* Good Conduct Medal
* Medical Badge

3.  The available record contains a BSM award certificate, 28th Infantry Division, undated, with the following citation:

Private [FSM], Medical Detachment, 112th Infantry, for heroic achievement on 12 August 1944, in connection with military operations against the enemy in France.  When an ajoining [sic] company was receiving heavy casualties during an attack on the enemy, Private [FSM] voluntarily went into the sector and treated many of the wounded while artillery fire was falling all about him.  At one time he was knocked off his feet when a large bomb, dropped from an aircraft, exploded nearby.  He bravely continued his mission of mercy until he was wounded by an artillery shell.  Private [FSM] greatly inspired the troops with whom he was working and his heroic achievement reflects great credit upon him and the Armed Forces of the United States.  

4.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides:

	a.  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 (CMB)  is considered to be a citation in orders for the BSM.  Therefore, the BSM is to be awarded to individuals who were authorized either badge for service during World War II.

	b.  An oak leaf cluster is awarded to denote the second and succeeding awards of certain decorations, among which is the BSM.

	c.  The "V" device indicates acts of heroism involving conflict with an armed enemy and authorizes the device in conjunction with many awards, including the Bronze Star Medal.  

	c.  The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is awarded for service within the European Theater between 7 December 1941 and 8 November 1945.  The regulation authorizes a bronze service star based upon qualifying service for each campaign listed in Appendix B, or listed in item 32 of the WD AGO Form 53-55.  

	d.  The CMB was originally established as the Medical Badge.  The CMB was created by the War Department on 1 March 1945 and can be awarded to officers, warrant officers, and enlisted Soldiers of the Medical Department assigned or attached to the medical detachment of infantry regiments, infantry battalions, and elements thereof designated as infantry in tables of organization or tables of organization and equipment.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Award of the BSM requires a formal recommendation, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders.  The FSM's available records do not contain and the applicant does not provide orders that show the FSM was awarded the BSM.  However, the certificate available in the reconstructed record is consistent with the FSM's military specialty, service in World War II, and the date of his combat wound.  Therefore, it is accepted as sufficient to show the FSM was awarded the BSM for heroism (i.e., with "V" Device).  He should be entitled to correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show this award. 

2.  The FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 also shows he was awarded the Medical Badge, later named Combat Medical Badge.  Based on his entitlement to the CMB, he should be awarded the Bronze Star Medal for service and should be entitled to correction of his WD AGO Form 53-55 to show this award.

3.  His records show he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.  Furthermore, his records show he participated in two campaigns during his service in WWII.  Therefore, he is entitled to two bronze service stars to be affixed to his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

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 a recommendation for relief.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by: 

* awarding the FSM the Bronze Star Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster), based upon his award of the Combat Medical Badge for service in World War II from 18 October 1943 to 2 October 1944
* deleting the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal in item 33 of the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55








* adding to the FSM's WD AGO Form 53-55 the: 

* Bronze Star Medal (2nd Award) and "V" Device
* European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars 




      ____________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)                                         AR20140008144





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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20140008144



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